Height can be read in feet and inches or in centimetres, and both formats describe the same measurement. The easiest way to understand a height is to convert it into one format, then use a visual chart to see how that height looks next to another person or object.
For example, 5'10" is 70 total inches, which is about 178 cm. A person who is 6'0" is 72 total inches, or about 183 cm. The written difference looks small, but a 5 cm difference is visible when both heights are drawn to the same scale in the HeightComparative tool.
What does feet and inches mean?
Feet and inches are imperial height units. One foot contains 12 inches, so a height written as 5'8" means 5 feet plus 8 inches.
To read it correctly:
| Written height | How to read it | Total inches | Approx. cm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'0" | Five feet zero inches | 60 in | 152 cm |
| 5'4" | Five feet four inches | 64 in | 163 cm |
| 5'8" | Five feet eight inches | 68 in | 173 cm |
| 6'0" | Six feet zero inches | 72 in | 183 cm |
| 6'4" | Six feet four inches | 76 in | 193 cm |
The apostrophe means feet. The quotation mark means inches. In casual writing, people often type 5 ft 8 in, 5 feet 8 inches, or 5'8. They all usually mean the same thing.
How centimetres work for height
Centimetres are metric units. They are simpler for calculation because the number is already a single value. A person who is 178 cm tall is simply 178 centimetres from the floor to the top of the head.
Metric height is common in many countries because it avoids the extra step of splitting a height into feet and inches. It is also easier for comparison. If one person is 178 cm and another is 165 cm, the difference is 13 cm.
| Metric height | Approx. feet and inches | Common written form |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 4'11" | 4 ft 11 in |
| 160 cm | 5'3" | 5 ft 3 in |
| 170 cm | 5'7" | 5 ft 7 in |
| 180 cm | 5'11" | 5 ft 11 in |
| 190 cm | 6'3" | 6 ft 3 in |
| 200 cm | 6'7" | 6 ft 7 in |
These are rounded conversions. A precise calculator may show a nearby value with decimal inches, such as 5'10.1". For most height comparisons, the rounded inch value is easier to read.
Height conversion formula
You can convert height manually with two simple formulas:
| Conversion | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Feet and inches to inches | feet x 12 + inches | 5'10" = 5 x 12 + 10 = 70 in |
| Inches to cm | inches x 2.54 | 70 in x 2.54 = 177.8 cm |
| Cm to inches | cm / 2.54 | 178 cm / 2.54 = 70.1 in |
| Inches to feet and inches | divide by 12 | 70 in = 5 ft 10 in |
So 5'10" is 177.8 cm, usually rounded to 178 cm. If you want a quick conversion without doing the math, use the height calculator.
Quick height conversion chart
Use this chart for common adult heights. The centimetre values are rounded to the nearest whole number.
| Feet and inches | Centimetres | Difference from 5'8" |
|---|---|---|
| 5'0" | 152 cm | -20 cm |
| 5'2" | 157 cm | -15 cm |
| 5'4" | 163 cm | -10 cm |
| 5'6" | 168 cm | -5 cm |
| 5'8" | 173 cm | 0 cm |
| 5'10" | 178 cm | +5 cm |
| 6'0" | 183 cm | +10 cm |
| 6'2" | 188 cm | +15 cm |
| 6'4" | 193 cm | +20 cm |
This kind of table is useful for reading numbers, but it still does not show body scale. A visual chart is better when you want to compare two people side by side.
Why 5 cm can look different in real life
A 5 cm difference is about 2 inches. It can look subtle when two people are far apart, sitting down, wearing different shoes, or standing at different angles. It becomes easier to see when both people stand on the same baseline.
That is why height comparison charts use a floor line. The tool places each subject on the same ground level, then scales the silhouette to match the selected height.
| Difference | Approx. inches | How it usually appears |
|---|---|---|
| 2 cm | 0.8 in | Very small difference |
| 5 cm | 2.0 in | Noticeable side by side |
| 10 cm | 3.9 in | Clear difference |
| 15 cm | 5.9 in | Large difference |
| 20 cm | 7.9 in | Very obvious difference |
If you are comparing celebrities, remember that listed heights are often reported values. Use them as approximate references, not guaranteed medical measurements.
Feet and inches vs cm for celebrity heights
Celebrity height pages often show both units because readers search in different formats. A basketball fan may think in feet and inches, while someone using metric countries may prefer centimetres.
For example, LeBron James is listed at 6'9" or 206 cm. Kevin Hart is listed at 5'4" or 163 cm. The difference is 43 cm, which is easier to understand when you view LeBron James vs Kevin Hart as a scaled comparison.
Common height reading mistakes
The most common mistake is treating inches like decimals. A height of 5'10" is not 5.10 feet. It means 5 feet and 10 inches.
Here is the difference:
| Written value | Correct meaning | Wrong interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 5'10" | 5 feet + 10 inches | 5.10 feet |
| 6'2" | 6 feet + 2 inches | 6.2 feet |
| 5.5 ft | 5 feet + 6 inches | 5 feet + 5 inches |
Decimal feet are used in some technical contexts, but everyday height usually uses feet plus inches.
Best way to compare two heights
For quick reading, convert both heights to centimetres. For visual understanding, place both heights on the same chart.
The clean workflow is:
- Convert both heights to the same unit.
- Subtract the shorter height from the taller height.
- Draw both subjects from the same floor line.
- Label both heights in cm and ft/in.
HeightComparative does these steps automatically. You can add a custom person, choose a celebrity, set the height, and export the result as a PNG.
Summary
Feet and inches are split units, while centimetres are a single metric value. To compare heights accurately, convert both measurements into the same unit first. A table can help with quick conversion, but a visual height chart is better for seeing the real scale difference between people, celebrities, and objects.