How do I convert cm to inches?

Divide the centimetres by 2.54.

What is 180 cm in feet?

About 5 feet 11 inches (180 ÷ 30.48).

cm to Inches and Feet

Published 10/17/2025 · 2 min read · Everyday calculators

Lena Hoffmann — Science & education writer at Allin

Mathematics · Physics

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In short

To convert centimetres to inches, divide by 2.54; to feet, divide by 30.48. So 180 cm is 180 ÷ 2.54 ≈ 70.9 inches, which is 5 feet 11 inches. Going back, multiply inches by 2.54. A rough shortcut: divide centimetres by 2.5, or think of every 2.5 cm as roughly an inch.

Divide centimetres by 2.54 for inches, or 30.48 for feet. Here's the formula, how to write a height in feet and inches, and a reference table.

The conversion factors

An inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres, so to go from centimetres to inches you divide by 2.54. A foot is twelve inches, or 30.48 cm, so dividing centimetres by 30.48 gives feet directly. For 180 cm: 180 ÷ 2.54 ≈ 70.9 inches, or 180 ÷ 30.48 ≈ 5.9 feet. These two factors — 2.54 and 30.48 — are all you need to move between metric and imperial length.

Centimetres to feet and inches (height)

Heights in imperial are given as feet and inches together, so you split the number in two. First divide the centimetres by 30.48 for the feet; the whole-number part is the feet. Then take the leftover and turn it into inches. For 180 cm: 180 ÷ 30.48 = 5.9 feet, so 5 whole feet, and the 0.9 of a foot is 0.9 × 12 ≈ 11 inches — giving 5 feet 11 inches, written 5′11″.

Going back to centimetres

The reverse is a multiplication. To turn inches into centimetres, multiply by 2.54; to turn feet into centimetres, multiply by 30.48. A height of 5′11″ is 5 × 30.48 + 11 × 2.54 = 152.4 + 27.94 ≈ 180 cm, closing the loop. Being fluent both ways is handy for online shopping, sports stats and travel, where the same measurement is quoted in different units.

Quick estimates and reference

For a rough figure, divide centimetres by 2.5 instead of 2.54 — close enough to picture a size in inches on the fly. Better still, memorise a few common heights: 150 cm is about 4′11″, 165 cm about 5′5″, and 180 cm about 5′11″. The table alongside lays these out. With a couple of anchors in mind, you can slot most heights into feet and inches without any arithmetic at all.

Common heights in feet and inches
Centimetres	Feet & inches
150 cm	4′11″
160 cm	5′3″
170 cm	5′7″
180 cm	5′11″
190 cm	6′3″

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Frequently asked questions

How do I convert cm to inches?: Divide the centimetres by 2.54.
What is 180 cm in feet?: About 5 feet 11 inches (180 ÷ 30.48).
How many cm in an inch?: Exactly 2.54 cm.

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