180 cm is 5 feet 10.87 inches — near enough to 5′11″ that it is almost always written that way. In inches it is 70.87.
The interesting part is what it is not. Six feet is 182.88 cm, so 180 cm falls 2.88 cm — about 1⅛ inches — short of it. Anyone described as "180, basically six foot" is a full inch away, which is exactly the sort of gap that height charts and passport forms do not let you round away.
| Centimetres | Feet & inches (exact) | Rounded |
|---|---|---|
| 165 cm | 5 ft 4.96 in | 5′5″ |
| 170 cm | 5 ft 6.93 in | 5′7″ |
| 175 cm | 5 ft 8.90 in | 5′9″ |
| 177.8 cm | 5 ft 10.00 in | 5′10″ exactly |
| 180 cm | 5 ft 10.87 in | 5′11″ |
| 180.34 cm | 5 ft 11.00 in | 5′11″ exactly |
| 182.88 cm | 6 ft 0.00 in | 6′0″ exactly |
| 185 cm | 6 ft 0.83 in | 6′1″ |
| 190 cm | 6 ft 2.80 in | 6′3″ |
| 200 cm | 6 ft 6.74 in | 6′7″ |
The exact-match rows are worth noting: whole feet-and-inches heights land on awkward centimetre values, and round centimetre values land on awkward inch values. The two systems simply do not line up at human heights.
Is 180 cm six feet?
No. Six feet is 72 inches, and 72 × 2.54 = 182.88 cm. So:
- 180 cm = 5′10.87″
- 182.88 cm = 6′0″ exactly
- The gap is 2.88 cm, or 1.13 inches
The confusion is understandable. In countries that use centimetres, 180 is the round number that gets treated as a milestone, the way six foot is in the US and UK. They sound equivalent because both are "the tall number," but they are more than an inch apart.
If you need six feet exactly in metric, 183 cm is the figure to remember — it is 6′0.05″, close enough that it rounds to six foot on any form.
How to convert cm to feet and inches
Three steps, and the second is the one people skip:
- Divide the centimetres by 2.54 to get total inches: 180 ÷ 2.54 = 70.8661
- Divide the total inches by 12 and keep the whole number as feet: 70.8661 ÷ 12 = 5.905, so 5 feet
- Multiply the leftover decimal by 12 for the inches: 0.905 × 12 = 10.87 inches
The mistake is reading 5.905 as "5 feet 9 inches." The decimal part is twelfths, not tenths, so it must be multiplied by 12. Reading it directly would put you nearly two inches out.
A quicker route to the same place: work out total inches, then subtract 60 (five feet) to get the remainder directly — 70.87 − 60 = 10.87 inches.
Rounding, and where it matters
180 cm rounds to 5′11″ because the remainder is 10.87 inches, and 0.87 rounds up to a full inch.
That rounding is conventional but not universal, and it can look inconsistent:
- 180 cm → 5′10.87″ → written 5′11″
- 179 cm → 5′10.47″ → written 5′10″
- 181 cm → 5′11.26″ → written 5′11″
So 180 and 181 cm both present as 5′11″ while 179 presents as 5′10″, despite each pair being only a centimetre apart. Height-restricted contexts — some aviation and military roles, certain rides and vehicles — measure rather than ask, so the exact figure is what counts.
For anything official, give the measurement in the units the form asks for and let them do the conversion.
Context for 180 cm
Some reference points:
- 180 cm is above the average adult male height in every country — national averages for men run roughly 165–184 cm, with only the Netherlands approaching 180 cm on average
- It is well above average for women everywhere
- In basketball, 180 cm is short; in most other sports it is unremarkable to tall
- Standard interior doors are around 200 cm (6′7″), so headroom is not a consideration until well above this height
If you are comparing yourself against a national average, use the average for your own age group and country — average heights have risen substantially over the past century, so figures for the general adult population understate the average for younger adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 180 cm in feet and inches?
5 feet 10.87 inches, normally written as 5′11″. In total inches it is 70.87, since 180 ÷ 2.54 = 70.8661.
Is 180 cm 6 feet tall?
No. Six feet is 182.88 cm, so 180 cm is 2.88 cm (1.13 inches) short of it. For six feet exactly in metric, 183 cm is the number to use.
Is 180 cm 5’11″ or 5’10″?
5′11″. The exact conversion is 5 feet 10.87 inches, and 0.87 of an inch rounds up. 5′10″ exactly would be 177.8 cm.
How many inches is 180 cm?
70.8661 inches. An inch is exactly 2.54 cm, so the conversion is a straight division: 180 ÷ 2.54.
How do I convert cm to feet and inches?
Divide the centimetres by 2.54 for total inches, take the whole number of twelves as feet, then multiply the leftover decimal by 12 for the remaining inches. Do not read the decimal as tenths of a foot — it is twelfths.
Is 180 cm tall?
Above average, yes. National average adult male heights run roughly 165–184 cm, so 180 cm is above average almost everywhere, and comfortably above average for women in every country.