Height Converter

Convert height/length between 21+ units: metric, imperial, Chinese, Japanese, nautical and more. Fast, accurate, and comprehensive conversion tool.

Supported Units: 21+ units across 6 measurement systems - Metric, Imperial/US, Chinese, Japanese, Nautical, and Astronomical.

Enter the height/length value and select the unit of measurement
5.5 ft (Average Male Height)
1.75 m (Metric Average)
100 cm (Child Height)
63 in (5'3")
185 cm (Tall Person)
All Units
Metric
Imperial/US
Chinese
Japanese
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Height Visualization

5.5 ft visualized above

Measurement Systems Explained

Metric System

Used worldwide except in the US, Liberia and Myanmar. Based on meters (m).

1 m
= 100 cm
1 cm
= 10 mm
Imperial/US System

Used primarily in the United States. Based on feet (ft) and inches (in).

1 ft
= 12 in
1 yd
= 3 ft
Chinese System

Traditional Chinese units, still used in some contexts in China and Taiwan.

1 chi
≈ 33.33 cm
1 cun
= 1/10 chi
Japanese System

Traditional Japanese units, used historically and in some traditional crafts.

1 shaku
≈ 30.30 cm
1 sun
= 1/10 shaku

Detailed Unit Information

Unit Symbol System Definition Equivalent in Meters
Meter m Metric SI base unit of length 1 m
Centimeter cm Metric 1/100 of a meter 0.01 m
Millimeter mm Metric 1/1000 of a meter 0.001 m
Kilometer km Metric 1000 meters 1000 m
Foot ft Imperial 12 inches, 1/3 yard 0.3048 m
Inch in Imperial 1/12 foot 0.0254 m
Yard yd Imperial 3 feet 0.9144 m
Mile mi Imperial 5280 feet 1609.344 m
Fathom ftm Nautical 6 feet, nautical depth 1.8288 m
Nautical Mile nmi Nautical Approx. 1 minute of latitude 1852 m
Chi (Chinese) chi Chinese Traditional Chinese foot 0.3333 m
Cun (Chinese) cun Chinese Traditional Chinese inch 0.0333 m
Shaku (Japanese) shaku Japanese Traditional Japanese foot 0.3030 m
Sun (Japanese) sun Japanese Traditional Japanese inch 0.0303 m

Practical Applications

Everyday Use
  • Human Height: Feet/inches (US), centimeters/meters (most countries)
  • Room Dimensions: Feet (US), meters (international)
  • Fabric Length: Yards (US), meters (international)
  • Screen Size: Inches (diagonal measurement)
Professional Use
  • Construction: Feet/inches (US), millimeters/meters (international)
  • Aviation: Feet (altitude), nautical miles (distance)
  • Maritime: Fathoms (depth), nautical miles (distance)
  • Science/Engineering: Millimeters/centimeters/meters

Calculator Features:

  • Convert between 21+ height/length units across 6 measurement systems
  • Visual representation of height with comparison markers
  • Compare with common objects and average heights
  • Detailed unit information and conversion formulas
  • Option to convert to multiple units simultaneously
  • Conversion history with local storage

Frequently Asked Questions

To convert feet and inches to centimeters: (feet × 30.48) + (inches × 2.54). For example, 5 feet 6 inches = (5 × 30.48) + (6 × 2.54) = 152.4 + 15.24 = 167.64 cm.

In the United States, the average height for adult men is about 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm) and for adult women is about 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm). Global averages vary by country, with the Netherlands having the tallest average and Indonesia having the shortest.

The imperial system (feet and inches) originated in England and was spread through the British Empire. The metric system (meters and centimeters) was developed in France during the French Revolution as a more rational, decimal-based system. Today, most countries use the metric system, but the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar still primarily use imperial units.

Height conversions are mathematically precise based on defined conversion factors. However, for practical use, they are often rounded. Medical applications may use 1-2 decimal places for centimeters, while everyday use typically rounds to the nearest whole centimeter or half-inch.

Yes, this converter works for any height measurement. For tracking children's growth, you can convert between centimeters (commonly used in growth charts) and feet/inches. Most pediatric growth charts provide measurements in both systems for easy comparison.