How Many CM Are in a Foot?

Quick answer: There are exactly 30.48 centimetres in a foot. One foot is defined as 30.48 cm, so 2 feet are 60.96 cm, 5 feet are 152.4 cm, and 10 feet are 304.8 cm.

The exact rule: 1 foot = 30.48 cm

The foot comes from the imperial system and the centimetre from the metric system, but they are linked by an exact definition. One inch is exactly 2.54 centimetres, and one foot is 12 inches, so 12 x 2.54 = 30.48 centimetres. There is no rounding in that definition.

The formulas are: centimetres = feet x 30.48, and metres = feet x 0.3048. To go from centimetres back to feet, divide by 30.48. For example, 152.4 cm / 30.48 = 5 feet. You can check any size with the feet to meters converter or the cm to inches converter if you are starting from metric units.

Why this conversion matters

Many countries now use metric units for most things, while feet are still common for height, room sizes and sports in others. A person who is 5 feet 8 inches tall is 172.72 cm tall, which is usually rounded to 173 cm. A room that is 12 feet long is 365.76 cm long, usually rounded to 366 cm. Knowing the exact factor lets you convert without guessing, and rounding only at the end keeps the result accurate.

For everyday use, 30 cm is a useful rough guide for one foot, but it is about 0.48 cm short. Over a long distance that small gap adds up: 10 feet is 304.8 cm, not 300 cm, a difference of nearly 5 cm. For building, sewing or ordering furniture, use 30.48, not 30.

Real-life examples

• A standard school ruler, 1 foot long, is 30.48 cm long.
• A kitchen counter, about 3 feet high, is about 91 cm high.
• A tall adult at 6 feet is about 183 cm tall.
• A standard ceiling at 8 feet is about 244 cm high.
• A basketball hoop at 10 feet is 304.8 cm above the court.

These examples show why both systems survive: feet give a human-scale step, while centimetres give a finer, decimal step for precise work.

How to convert feet and inches to centimetres

First convert everything to inches, then multiply by 2.54. For 5 feet 6 inches: 5 x 12 = 60, plus 6 = 66 inches, then 66 x 2.54 = 167.64 cm. That is the same as converting the feet and inches separately and adding: 5 feet = 152.4 cm, 6 inches = 15.24 cm, total 167.64 cm.

• Convert feet to inches first if the measurement includes inches.
• Multiply the total inches by 2.54, not by 2.5, for an exact result.
• Round only the final answer, to the nearest centimetre for everyday use.
• Check by converting back: divide centimetres by 30.48 to return to feet.

Common mistakes

• Using 30 cm for a foot in precise work, which under-measures by 0.48 cm per foot.
• Forgetting the inches part, so 5 feet 6 inches is wrongly converted as just 5 feet.
• Mixing centimetres and millimetres, so 30.48 cm becomes 30.48 mm, which is ten times too small.
• Writing a decimal in feet, such as 5.6 feet, as if it meant 5 feet 6 inches, when it actually means 170.69 cm.

Frequently asked questions

How many cm are in a foot?

Exactly 30.48 cm.

How many cm are in 5 feet?

152.4 cm, because 5 x 30.48 = 152.4.

How many cm are in 6 feet?

182.88 cm, because 6 x 30.48 = 182.88, usually rounded to 183 cm.

How do I convert centimetres to feet?

Divide centimetres by 30.48. For example, 200 cm / 30.48 = 6.56 feet, which is about 6 feet 7 inches.

Is 1 foot the same as 30 cm?

Only roughly. One foot is 30.48 cm, so 30 cm is close for a quick estimate but not exact, and the gap grows over longer distances.