170 cm is 5 feet 6.93 inches, or 66.93 inches. It rounds to 5′7″ — and this is one of the rare heights where the round metric value and the round imperial value very nearly coincide: 5′7″ is 170.18 cm, less than 2 mm away.
That near-coincidence makes 170 cm unusually convenient. Most centimetre values land awkwardly between inches, but here you can treat 170 cm and 5′7″ as interchangeable for any practical purpose.
| Centimetres | Feet & inches (exact) | Rounded |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 4 ft 11.06 in | 4′11″ |
| 155 cm | 5 ft 1.02 in | 5′1″ |
| 160 cm | 5 ft 2.99 in | 5′3″ |
| 165 cm | 5 ft 4.96 in | 5′5″ |
| 167.64 cm | 5 ft 6.00 in | 5′6″ exactly |
| 170 cm | 5 ft 6.93 in | 5′7″ |
| 170.18 cm | 5 ft 7.00 in | 5′7″ exactly |
| 175 cm | 5 ft 8.90 in | 5′9″ |
| 180 cm | 5 ft 10.87 in | 5′11″ |
| 185 cm | 6 ft 0.83 in | 6′1″ |
The 170 cm / 5′7″ coincidence
The two systems almost never line up at human heights, which is why conversions produce values like 5′10.87″. 170 cm is the exception:
- 170 cm = 5′6.93″
- 5′7″ = 170.18 cm
- The difference is 0.18 cm, or 1.8 millimetres
That is smaller than the amount your height varies over the course of a day. Spinal discs compress under load, so most people measure a few millimetres shorter in the evening than first thing in the morning — a bigger effect than the entire gap between 170 cm and 5′7″.
So for any real purpose, 170 cm and 5′7″ are the same height. Compare that with 180 cm, which is a full 1.13 inches short of six feet.
How to convert cm to feet and inches
The method, using 170 cm:
- Total inches: 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.9291
- Whole feet: 66.9291 ÷ 12 = 5.577, so 5 feet
- Remaining inches: 0.577 × 12 = 6.93 inches
Or more directly, subtract 60 inches (five feet) from the total: 66.93 − 60 = 6.93 inches.
The error to avoid is reading 5.577 as "5 feet 5.8 inches." The decimal part of a feet figure is twelfths, not tenths — multiply it by 12 rather than reading it off. Getting this wrong puts you more than an inch out, which is the difference between two clothing sizes.
Where 170 cm sits
Some context, though averages vary a great deal by country and age group:
- 170 cm is close to the average adult male height across much of the world, and above average for men in parts of South and Southeast Asia
- It is above average for women almost everywhere — most national averages for women fall between 150 and 170 cm
- Standard kitchen counters are 90–92 cm high, designed for users around this height
- Aircraft economy seat pitch becomes noticeably tight above about 185 cm, so 170 cm is comfortable
National averages have risen substantially over the last century, so if you are comparing against a figure, check whether it covers all adults or a specific age band — the difference between those two numbers is often several centimetres.
Converting the other way
Feet and inches to centimetres is the easier direction, because you multiply rather than carry a remainder:
- Convert the height entirely to inches: feet × 12 + inches
- Multiply by 2.54
So 5′7″ is (5 × 12) + 7 = 67 inches, and 67 × 2.54 = 170.18 cm.
A few common heights, for reference:
- 5′0″ = 152.4 cm
- 5′4″ = 162.56 cm
- 5′7″ = 170.18 cm
- 5′10″ = 177.8 cm
- 6′0″ = 182.88 cm
- 6′2″ = 187.96 cm
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 170 cm in feet and inches?
5 feet 6.93 inches, normally written as 5′7″. In total inches it is 66.93, since 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.9291.
Is 170 cm the same as 5’7″?
Effectively yes. 5′7″ is 170.18 cm, so the difference is 1.8 millimetres — less than the amount your height changes between morning and evening.
How many inches is 170 cm?
66.9291 inches. An inch is exactly 2.54 cm, so the conversion is 170 ÷ 2.54.
Is 170 cm tall?
It is around average for men in much of the world and above average for women almost everywhere. National averages differ widely, and have risen over the past century, so compare against a figure for your own country and age group.
What is 5’7″ in cm?
170.18 cm. Convert to inches first — 5 × 12 + 7 = 67 — then multiply by 2.54.
Why does the conversion give 5.577 feet?
Because 66.93 inches divided by 12 is 5.577 feet, where the decimal represents twelfths of a foot. Multiply 0.577 by 12 to get the 6.93 remaining inches — reading it as 5 feet 5.8 inches would be more than an inch wrong.