Feet+Inches to Centimeters (ft+in to cm) Converter

As we progress as a global unit, it is very important to have a standardised measurement system. Many countries are still following the imperial system of measurement. One of the most common conversions in measuring the height of any product, person or element is feet and inch to centimetres. In this article, we will explore the history of the units, the reasons for the persistence of imperial measurement and its application.

Conversion of feet and inches to centimetres is a rather basic mathematical skill that bridges the metric system of measurement and the imperial system of measurement. The imperial system has its roots established in the UK and was eventually adopted by the United States. It contains units like feet, inches and pounds for length and weight measurement. On the other hand, the metric system, also known as the International System of Units, uses metres, centimetres and grams for the same.

The origins of the imperial systems can be traced back to the ancient civilizations. These measurements were used to measure a person’s height or stacks of grain. The measurement unit foot is often correlated with the Roman foot, approximately 29.6 centimetres. The variations changed until the standard was set to 30.48 centimetres or 12 inches. Inch has been derived from the Latin word ‘uncia”, which means one-twelfth and is linked to feet under the imperial system umbrella. The birth of the metric system can be traced back to the French Revolution’s quest for standardisation. France 1795, introduced the metric system based on metres as the fundamental unit of length. Metre was defined as the one=ten=millionth distance from the North Pole to the equator, making the unit pretty much precise, leading to its universal adoption.

What is a Feet?

The US customary measurement system and the British imperial measurement system both recognise the foot as one of the most popular length measurement units. The foot is represented by the letter “ft” in shorthand. Twelve inches and one-third of a yard make up one foot. Additionally, one foot is equal to 0.3048 meters. The International Yard and Pound Agreement provided the first definition of the foot in 1959. The agreed-upon conversion factor made one foot equivalent to 0.3048 meters.

In addition to the shorthand “ft,” individuals use a single quote or the symbol [‘] to indicate foot. So, if you write one foot as one foot or one inch, they all represent the same thing. The foot is typically measured using measurement tape and a standard 12-inch ruler.

Measurement of Feet in Different Units

Current Use of Feet

The foot is used to gauge a person’s height and extremely small distances. In order to measure fields, individuals also count on foot. It is widely used in commercial and engineering activities in the United States.

History of  Feet

Before the standardisation of the units which are used for measurement and are currently defined as the foot, the measurement of the foot was employed in a number of distinct systems, with lengths ranging between the Greek, Chinese, English, Chinese, and Roman systems.  There was a range of units which have been used since human body parts were formerly used as the foundation for length units. Because of this, a foot’s definition in the past varied from 250 mm to 335 mm rather than the current 304.8 mm.

What is Inch?

In both the Imperial and US measurement systems, an inch is used to measure length. Prior to that, in the late 1950s, an inch became standardised. At that time, it was specified as a value of 25.4 millimetres. Moreover, 12 inches added together equal 1 foot, and 36 inches equal 1 yard. The Latin word “uncia,” which denotes one-twelfth of a Roman foot, was used to create the English word “inch.” Unlike the worldwide yard, the value of an inch has now been standardised. However, keep in mind that an inch is about equivalent to the width of a human thumb, and you may even equate it to the size of a mobile display, for better comprehension. It is spelt as “in” when shortened.

Measurement of Inches in Different Units

Current Use of Inches

Most of the world uses inches, which are recognised under the British Imperial System. In addition, it is considered when determining length in many nations, including Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. In Japan, electronic components, especially screen displays, are measured in inches. On the other hand, in our daily lives, we utilise inches as rulers for mathematical computations.

History of Inches

The Latin use of the unit “uncia,” which equals “one-twelfth” of a Roman foot, is from where the word “inch” came.

The definition of the inch used presently is completely based on the international yard, while there have previously been a lot of other definitions for the unit.

What is a Centimeter?

One of the length-measuring units included in the International metric system is the centimetre. One cm is equal to one-tenth of a metre. Additionally, one cm is equivalent to a total of 0.39370 inches. Centimetres are widely used as a standard unit of length because they are the most useful. In other words, you may calculate a fingernail’s size by adding a centimetre to its length.

Comparing centimetres to the ruler you used in school will help you grasp them better. People typically use the unit of centimetres when measuring lengths, the size of little objects, or the distance between two objects. Internationally, it is spelt Centimeter and is abbreviated as “cm.”

Measurement of Centimeter in Different Units

Current Use of Centimeter

Around the world, centimetres are mostly utilised in specific situations where the lower denomination of a metre is required. In the United States, people rely on centimetres to measure height. A centimetre is considered when calculating the dimensions and distance between two objects.

History of Centimeter

The prefix “centi” indicates that a centimetre equals one-tenth of a meter and is based on the worldwide valid SI unit meter. To navigate metric units more quickly, it can be useful to become familiar with some of the more often used metric prefixes, such as kilo-, mega-, giga-, tera-, centi-, milli-, micro-, and nano-.

Relationship between Feet, Inch, and CM

Before we proceed with the conversion procedure, let’s take a closer look at how these units relate to one another. When converting a value between units, the relationship between feet, inches, and cm can be easily understood and is used as a conversion parameter.

1 Foot = 12 Inch and 1 Inch = 0.0833333 Foot 

1 Inch = 2.54b Centimetre and 1 Centimetre = 0.393701 Inch  

1 Centimetre = 0.0328084 Foot and 1 Foot = 30.48 Centimetre

How to Convert Feet Inch to CM?

You may use our conversion calculator or the mathematical procedure to calculate the quantities to convert feet to inches to centimetres. You only need to enter input data in the calculator’s text area to calculate the value using the ft inch to cm converter. The calculated value will appear on your screen in a matter of seconds.

However, to compute the value through a mathematical formula, follow the mentioned steps:

Step 1) Initially convert the feet value into inches.

As 1 foot equals 12 inches, multiply the feet value by 12. 

12 acts as a conversion parameter to convert a value from feet to inches. 

Step 2) Now, figure out the total value of inches by adding the one computed from step 1 to the existing inches value.

Step 3) Now multiply the total number of inches, i.e. the output of step 2, by 2.54. The value must be multiplied by 2.54 because 1 inch equals 2.54 cm. 

Feet Inch to CM Conversion Formula & Example

The feet inch to cm formula can be written as

Centimetre = [ (feet * 12) + Inches ] * 2.54

Now, when familiar with the feet inch to cm formula, let’s go through certain examples. It will help you understand how this formula works and make the conversion handy. 

Convert 3 Feet 6 Inches into CM

First, convert 3 feet to inches by multiplying it by 12.

3 x 12 = 36 inches.

Now, find the total number of inches by adding the result of the above step into the given inches.

36 + 6 = 42 inches

Third, convert inches into cm by multiplying the output of step 2 by 2.54. 

42 x 2.54 = 106.68 cm

Thus, 3 Feet 6 Inches is equal to 106.68 Centimetres.

Convert 5 ft 10 Inches in CM

First, convert 5 feet to inches by multiplying it by 12.

5 x 12 = 60 inches.

Now, find the total number of inches by adding the result of the above step into the given inches.

60 + 10 = 70 inches

Third, convert inches into cm by multiplying the output of step 2 by 2.54. 

70 x 2.54 = 177.8 cm

Thus, 5 Feet 10 Inches equals 177.8 Centimetres

Convert 9 ft 4 Inches in cm

First, convert 9 feet to inches by multiplying it by 12.

9 x 12 = 108 inches.

Now, find the total number of inches by adding the result of the above step into the given inches.

108 + 5 = 112 inches

Third, convert inches into cm by multiplying the output of step 2 by 2.54. 

112 x 2.54 = 284.48 cm

Thus, 9 Feet 4 Inches is equal to 284.48 Centimetres.

Don’t miss It!

Feet Inch CM Conversion Chart

Refer to the following feet inch to the cm conversion chart to access ft inch to cm values in one go. 

Common Conversions from Feet Inch to CM

The common conversions from feet inch to cm orients around height. People usually look for the ft inch to cm conversion to figure out their heights in cm. Refer to the below-depicted table to determine the equivalent height in centimetres. 

Difference between Feet, Inch and CM

While feet, inch and cm are used for length measurement, the units differ from each other on various grounds. Some of them are as follows:

FAQ’s about Feet Inch into Cm Convert