170 cm to Feet — Quick Answer: 5'7" (5.58 ft)

March 31, 2026 · 12 min read

170 centimeters equals 5 feet 7 inches (or 5.58 feet in decimal form). This converts to 66.93 inches total, 1.70 meters, or 1700 millimeters.

Whether you're filling out a form, shopping for clothes internationally, or simply curious about height conversions, understanding how 170 cm translates to feet and inches is incredibly useful. This guide covers everything you need to know about this common height measurement.

Quick Answer: 170 cm = 5'7"

170 centimeters converts to 5 feet 7 inches (written as 5'7"). In decimal notation, this is 5.58 feet. The total measurement equals 66.93 inches.

Here's the breakdown of 170 cm across different units:

• Feet and inches: 5'7" (5 feet 7 inches)
• Decimal feet: 5.58 ft
• Total inches: 66.93 in
• Meters: 1.70 m
• Millimeters: 1700 mm

In everyday conversation, if someone tells you they're 170 cm tall, you would say they're "five foot seven" or "five seven" for short. This is a very common height globally and falls right around average for adult males in many countries.

How to Convert 170 cm to Feet and Inches

There are several methods to convert 170 centimeters to feet and inches. Each approach has its advantages depending on whether you need precision or just a quick estimate.

Method 1: Direct Formula (Most Accurate)

The most precise method divides centimeters by 30.48, which is the exact number of centimeters in one foot.

Step 1: Divide centimeters by 30.48 to get decimal feet

170 cm ÷ 30.48 = 5.5774 feet

Step 2: Separate the whole number (feet) from the decimal

5 feet + 0.5774 feet

Step 3: Multiply the decimal portion by 12 to convert to inches

0.5774 × 12 = 6.93 inches ≈ 7 inches

Result: 5 feet 7 inches (5'7")

Method 2: Convert to Inches First

This method converts centimeters to inches first, then divides by 12 to get feet. Many people find this approach more intuitive.

Step 1: Convert centimeters to inches (divide by 2.54)

170 cm ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches

Step 2: Divide total inches by 12 to get feet

66.93 ÷ 12 = 5 feet with remainder 6.93 inches

Result: 5'7" (5 feet 7 inches)

Method 3: Quick Mental Math

When you need a fast approximation without a calculator, this mental math trick works well.

Rule of thumb: Divide centimeters by 30 to get approximate feet

170 ÷ 30 ≈ 5.67 feet

This gives you 5.67 feet, which is very close to the exact answer of 5.58 feet. For casual conversation, this is accurate enough.

Method 4: Using Conversion Factors

If you remember that 1 inch equals 2.54 cm, you can work backwards from common heights you know.

• 5 feet = 152.4 cm
• 6 inches = 15.24 cm
• 7 inches = 17.78 cm

Adding these together: 152.4 + 17.78 = 170.18 cm, which rounds to 170 cm for 5'7".

Conversion Table: 165 cm to 175 cm

This comprehensive table shows conversions for heights around 170 cm, covering the range from 165 cm to 175 cm. This span represents common adult heights globally.

Notice how small differences in centimeters can result in the same feet-and-inches measurement when rounded. For example, 169 cm, 170 cm, and 171 cm all round to 5'7".

Extended Conversion Reference

For a broader perspective, here's how 170 cm compares to other common heights:

Is 170 cm Tall? Height Comparison

At 170 cm (5'7"), whether someone is considered "tall" depends entirely on context—specifically gender, geographic location, and the population being compared.

For Men

170 cm is approximately average for adult males globally. The worldwide average male height is around 171 cm (5'7.5"), making 170 cm just slightly below this mark.

In most countries, a man who is 170 cm tall would be considered:

• Average height in Asian countries (China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia)
• Slightly below average in North America and Western Europe
• Below average in Northern European countries (Netherlands, Denmark, Norway)
• Above average in some South American and African countries

Statistically, 170 cm places men around the 40th-60th percentile globally, meaning roughly half of men worldwide are taller and half are shorter.

For Women

170 cm is considered above average to tall for adult females in virtually all countries. The global average female height is approximately 159 cm (5'3"), making 170 cm a full 11 cm (4 inches) above average.

A woman who is 170 cm tall would be:

• Tall in most Asian, South American, and African countries
• Above average in North America and Western Europe
• Average to slightly above average only in the Netherlands and a few Nordic countries

Women at 170 cm typically fall in the 75th-85th percentile globally, meaning they're taller than approximately 75-85% of women worldwide.

Perception vs. Reality

It's important to note that height perception is heavily influenced by your immediate environment. Someone who is 170 cm might feel average in one setting but noticeably shorter or taller in another.

"Height is relative. A 5'7" person might feel short in the Netherlands where average male height is 6'0", but perfectly average in many Asian countries where 5'7" is typical or even above average."

Average Height by Country vs 170 cm

Understanding how 170 cm compares to average heights around the world provides valuable context. Here's a comprehensive breakdown by region and country.

Global Height Comparison Table

Regional Patterns

Northern Europe: The tallest populations globally. At 170 cm, you'd be noticeably shorter than average for men, but around average for women.

North America: Above global average. 170 cm is below average for men (by about 7 cm) but above average for women.

East Asia: Close to global average. 170 cm is very close to average for men in China and Japan, and above average for women.

South Asia: Below global average. 170 cm is above average for both men and women in countries like India and Bangladesh.

Southeast Asia: Generally shorter populations. 170 cm is considered tall for both genders in most Southeast Asian countries.

Latin America: Mixed, but generally close to global average. 170 cm is around average for men in many Latin American countries.

Practical Uses for 170 cm to Feet Conversion

Understanding the conversion between 170 cm and feet/inches isn't just academic—it has numerous real-world applications.

1. International Travel and Documentation

When traveling internationally or filling out official documents, you'll often need to provide your height in different units.

• Visa applications: Many countries require height in feet and inches
• Driver's licenses: US and UK licenses use feet/inches, while most other countries use centimeters
• Passport forms: Requirements vary by country
• Medical records: Healthcare systems use different measurement standards

Example: If you're 170 cm and applying for a US visa, you'd enter 5'7" on the form.

2. Online Shopping for Clothing

International clothing retailers often provide size charts in multiple measurement systems. Knowing your height in both centimeters and feet/inches helps you select the right size.

Common scenarios:

• Pants/jeans: Inseam measurements may be in inches (US/UK) or centimeters (EU/Asia)
• Dresses and jumpsuits: Length recommendations often reference height ranges
• Suits and formal wear: Tailoring specifications use different units by region

For someone who is 170 cm (5'7"), typical clothing sizes would be:

• Pants inseam: 30-32 inches (76-81 cm) for regular fit
• Dress length: "Regular" or "Standard" length in most brands
• Suit jacket: 38R-40R (Regular) in US sizing

3. Sports and Fitness

Height is a crucial measurement in many sports contexts, and different sports use different measurement standards.

Basketball: Player heights are listed in feet/inches in the NBA but centimeters in international leagues. A 170 cm player would be listed as 5'7" in the NBA.

Combat sports: Weight classes and reach measurements often require height in multiple units. Boxing and MMA fighters at 170 cm compete in various weight divisions.

Fitness equipment: Treadmills, bikes, and weight machines have height-based adjustment recommendations. At 170 cm, you'd typically use "medium" or "standard" settings.

4. Ergonomics and Furniture

Proper ergonomic setup depends on accurate height measurements, and furniture specifications vary by region.

For someone who is 170 cm (5'7"):

• Desk height: 68-73 cm (27-29 inches) for optimal ergonomics
• Chair height: 40-50 cm (16-20 inches) seat height
• Monitor position: Top of screen at or slightly below eye level (approximately 115-120 cm from floor)
• Kitchen counter: Standard 90 cm (36 inches) works well

5. Medical and Health Applications

Healthcare providers use height for various calculations and assessments.

BMI calculations: Body Mass Index requires height in either meters or inches. For 170 cm (1.70 m), the formula is: BMI = weight (kg) ÷ (1.70)²

Medication dosing: Some medications are dosed based on body surface area, which incorporates height.

Growth charts: Pediatric growth tracking uses percentile charts that may be in centimeters or inches depending on the country.

6. Dating Apps and Social Media

Many dating profiles and social media platforms ask for height, and preferences vary by region.

In the US and UK, listing "5'7"" is more common and immediately understood. In most other countries, "170 cm" is the standard. Some apps allow you to display both measurements.

Other Unit Conversions for 170 cm

Beyond feet and inches, 170 cm can be expressed in various other measurement units. Here's a comprehensive reference.

Standard Length Units

Less Common but Useful Conversions

Hands: Used primarily for measuring horse height. 1 hand = 4 inches = 10.16 cm

170 cm = 16.73 hands (approximately 16.3 hands in equestrian notation)

Cubits: Ancient measurement unit. 1 cubit ≈ 45.72 cm (18 inches)

170 cm = 3.72 cubits

Fathoms: Nautical measurement. 1 fathom = 6 feet = 182.88 cm

170 cm = 0.93 fathoms

Scientific Notation

In scientific contexts, 170 cm can be expressed as:

• Standard form: 1.70 × 10² cm
• Meters: 1.70 × 10⁰ m
• Micrometers: 1.70 × 10⁶ μm
• Nanometers: 1.70 × 10⁹ nm

Quick Reference: Common Conversions

Here are the most frequently needed conversions for 170 cm:

• To inches: 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches
• To feet: 170 ÷ 30.48 = 5.58 feet
• To meters: 170 ÷ 100 = 1.70 meters
• To feet and inches: 5 feet 7 inches (5'7")

Need to convert other measurements? Try our universal length converter for any unit conversion.

Understanding Height Measurements in Context

Height measurements aren't just numbers—they carry cultural, historical, and practical significance that varies around the world.

Why Different Measurement Systems Exist

The metric system (centimeters, meters) is used by the vast majority of countries worldwide. It's based on powers of 10, making conversions straightforward.

The imperial system (feet, inches) is primarily used in the United States, with limited use in the UK and a few other countries. It's based on historical measurements that don't follow a consistent pattern.

This divide creates the need for conversions like 170 cm to feet and inches.

Historical Context

The foot as a measurement unit dates back thousands of years, originally based on the length of a human foot. Different civilizations had different "foot" lengths:

• Roman foot: 29.6 cm
• Greek foot: 30.8 cm
• Modern international foot: 30.48 cm (exactly)

The meter was defined in 1799 during the French Revolution as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. Today, it's defined by the speed of light in a vacuum.

Measurement Accuracy in Daily Life

How precise do height measurements need to be? It depends on the context:

Casual conversation: Rounding to the nearest inch or centimeter is fine. "I'm about 5'7"" or "I'm around 170 cm."

Medical records: Typically measured to the nearest 0.5 cm or quarter inch.

Sports documentation: Often recorded to the nearest centimeter or half-inch.

Scientific research: May require precision to the millimeter.

For 170 cm, the practical difference between 169 cm and 171 cm is negligible in most situations—all