Formula
Total inches = feet × 12 + inches. Metres = total inches × 0.0254. Centimetres = metres × 100.
Conversions
Feet and Inches to Metres and Centimetres Calculator
Convert a height or building measurement from feet and inches into metres and centimetres using the exact international inch definition.
Calculator
Working calculator
Live result1.778 m · 177.8 cm70.00 total inches × 0.0254 m/in
Formula used
Total inches = feet × 12 + inches. Metres = total inches × 0.0254. Centimetres = metres × 100.
This is the method behind the answer, so the result can be checked rather than simply trusted.What-if check
Cutting and tolerance allowance
The conversion is exact, but real materials often need a little extra for cuts, kerfs and tolerance. These rows show the metric effect of adding small imperial allowances.
| Allowance added | Metres | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| No allowance | 1.778 m | 177.8 cm |
| +0.5 in | 1.791 m | 179.1 cm |
| +1 in | 1.803 m | 180.3 cm |
| +2 in | 1.829 m | 182.9 cm |
Visual proof
Imperial to metric length bar
The blue bar represents the entered length after feet are converted into total inches and then multiplied by exactly 0.0254 metres per inch.
Printable calculation report
Result: 1.778 m · 177.8 cm. Assumption: 1 foot is treated as exactly 12 inches.
- Feet
- 5
- Inches
- 10
- Page/date context
- 2026-05-16 UTC page version
- Page URL
- https://calculationtime.com/calculators/feet-inches-to-metres-centimetres-calculator
Worked example
5 ft 10 in = 5 × 12 + 10 = 70 total inches. 70 × 0.0254 = 1.778 metres. 1.778 × 100 = 177.8 centimetres.
Professional note
Master’s Tip: for building and material orders, record the original imperial dimensions and the converted metric dimensions together. When cuts, kerfs, tolerances or offcuts matter, round purchase quantities upward rather than trusting a bare converted length.
Regional and unit assumptions
Standard or basis: the international inch is exactly 25.4 mm, or 0.0254 m. This page uses transparent unit-conversion arithmetic based on that exact relationship.
Assumptions and limitations
- 1 foot is treated as exactly 12 inches.
- The international inch is exactly 25.4 millimetres, which is 0.0254 metres.
- Results are shown to practical decimal precision; keep more decimals for engineering records if required.
- This is a length conversion only. It does not add construction waste, cutting allowance or material tolerance.
Methodology & Accuracy
How this calculator is checked
CalculationTime pages are built around visible arithmetic: the formula, assumptions, worked example and practical limitations are shown so the result can be checked rather than simply trusted.
Formula used
Total inches = feet × 12 + inches. Metres = total inches × 0.0254. Centimetres = metres × 100.
Standard or basis
Standard or basis: the international inch is exactly 25.4 mm, or 0.0254 m. This page uses transparent unit-conversion arithmetic based on that exact relationship.
Where a calculator follows a named legal, trade or industry standard, that standard is cited visibly. Otherwise the page uses transparent general arithmetic and states its limits.Master's Tip
Master’s Tip: for building and material orders, record the original imperial dimensions and the converted metric dimensions together. When cuts, kerfs, tolerances or offcuts matter, round purchase quantities upward rather than trusting a bare converted length.
Related calculators
Questions
How many metres is 5 feet 10 inches?
5 feet 10 inches is 70 total inches. Multiply 70 by 0.0254 to get 1.778 metres, or 177.8 centimetres.
What is the formula for feet and inches to metres?
First calculate total inches = feet × 12 + inches. Then multiply total inches by 0.0254 to get metres.
Is one inch exactly 2.54 centimetres?
Yes. The international inch is exactly 25.4 millimetres, which is exactly 2.54 centimetres or 0.0254 metres.
Should I round metric measurements for construction?
For records, keep the precise conversion. For purchasing material, round upward where cuts, tolerances, waste, kerfs or manufacturer sizing can affect the final quantity.
Can inches be more than 12 in the input?
Yes. The calculator converts everything through total inches, so 5 ft 14 in is treated as 74 total inches.
Calculation note
Feet-and-inch measurements remain common in construction, height records and older plans, while metric metres and centimetres are used internationally. A transparent converter helps preserve the original imperial measurement while producing a precise metric record.
Why the inch-to-metre relationship can be exact
Modern conversions are not estimates when they use the international inch definition. Since the inch is defined from the metre through an exact millimetre relationship, feet-and-inch lengths can be converted to metres and centimetres with deterministic arithmetic.
Why builders should keep both measurements
On site, a drawing, supplier sheet or legacy dimension may be imperial while the material order or compliance record is metric. Keeping both the original and converted values reduces transcription mistakes and makes later checks easier.
Precision is different from purchasing tolerance
A conversion can be exact while a real-world cut is still affected by saw kerf, product sizing, expansion gaps, offcuts or material waste. That is why the printable report shows the arithmetic clearly but warns against using a converted number as the only ordering allowance.
Sources and further readingNIST: SI Units — LengthBIPM: SI Brochure