5’8 in cm: Exact Height Conversion + Chart & Comparisons

If you’ve ever stared at a height chart wondering whether 175 cm rounds up to 5’9″ or down to 5’8″, you’re not alone — this is one of the most searched conversion mix-ups online. The math is actually simple, but the rounding choices some calculators make can throw you off by a whole inch. This guide gives you the exact numbers, explains why the confusion exists, and includes a comparison chart so you’ll never second-guess your height again.

5’8″ in cm: 172.72 cm · 5’7″ in cm: 170.18 cm · 5’9″ in cm: 175.26 cm · 1 foot in cm: 30.48 cm · 1 inch in cm: 2.54 cm

This height conversion table shows the most commonly referenced values across verified conversion sources.

What is 5ft 8 height in cm?

Conversion formula

The international inch was defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters (2.54 centimeters) back in 1959, and every accurate height converter since then has used that same definition, according to RapidTables (conversion reference site). That means your height in centimeters is always a fixed calculation away — no approximation involved.

• 1 inch = 2.54 cm
• 1 foot = 30.48 cm (12 inches × 2.54)

Step-by-step calculation

Converting 5’8″ to centimeters takes three quick steps, as shown by Inch Calculator (precision conversion tool):

This result — 172.72 cm — is verified across SplashLearn (math education platform), The Calculator Site (conversion chart database), and BYJU’S (educational calculator). BYJU’S specifically confirms that 8 inches equals 20.32 cm as part of their inches-to-cm chart.

The implication: if a converter gives you any number other than 172.72 for 5’8″, it’s either rounding for display or using a different rounding method — not the exact international standard.

Is 172 cm 5’8″ or 5’9″?

Exact breakdown

Here’s where things get tricky. The exact value 172.72 cm is 5’8″ — but if you input 172 cm into a reverse converter, you get a different answer. The Calculator Site (comprehensive bidirectional tables) shows that 172 cm converts to exactly 5 feet 7.72 inches, which is closer to 5’8″ than 5’7″ but not an exact match.

Rounding differences

Omni Calculator (metric conversion tool) demonstrates the math: 172 ÷ 30.48 = 5.647 feet, and 0.647 × 12 = 7.76 inches. The slight variation from 5’7.72″ in some charts comes from how many decimal places are carried through the calculation.

This table shows how different centimeter inputs map to their feet-and-inches equivalents, highlighting the gray zone around 172 cm.

The pattern: 172 cm sits in a gray zone where different tools make different calls. If precision matters — for clothing sizes, medical records, or official documents — use 172.72 cm explicitly.

Is 175 cm 5’8 or 5’9?

Why converters vary

This is probably the most common source of confusion online. Vedantu (educational calculator) shows that 175 cm converts to 5 feet 8.9 inches — nearly 5’9″ but not quite there. The math, per Omni Calculator, is: 175 ÷ 30.48 = 5.741 feet, and 0.741 × 12 ≈ 8.9 inches.

175 cm equivalents

The 175 cm case shows exactly why rounding creates confusion. Some converters display 175 cm as “5’9″” because 8.9 inches rounds up to 9, as explained by The Calculator Site. But the true value — 175.26 cm — is the one that corresponds to an exact 5’9″.

What this means: 175 cm is closer to 5’9″ than 5’8″ by about 0.26 cm. If a site calls it 5’8″, it’s rounding down for display purposes. The exact value is 5’8.9″, which rounds up to 5’9″ in most everyday contexts.

Is 5’8″ tall for a man?

Average heights by region

Average male height varies significantly by country. According to GigaCalculator (height comparison tool), the US male average sits around 5’9″ (175.26 cm), which puts 5’8″ at roughly 2.54 cm (1 inch) below that average. UHSussex NHS (UK health authority) confirms similar metrics in clinical charts from 2023.

Perception factors

Height perception is culturally shaped. In some Nordic countries, averages run taller — meaning 5’8″ might fall below the local median. In many Asian and Latin American countries, the same height could be considered above average, as GigaCalculator notes in their regional comparisons.

The pattern: in the United States and much of Western Europe, 5’8″ is slightly below or at average for adult men. In countries with shorter average heights, it’s noticeably above median. Context determines whether 5’8″ feels “tall” or “short.”

Is 5’8″ tall or short for a guy?

Short kings context

The “short kings” movement in online spaces has reframed 5’8″ as respectable rather than short. This cultural shift accepts that 5’8″ — at 172.72 cm — is a functional, common height that doesn’t limit success, charisma, or appeal, despite occasional social pressure to be taller.

Dating and social views

Research and survey data consistently show height preferences in dating contexts, though these vary by generation and platform. GigaCalculator provides visual comparisons that put 5’8″ in context against common benchmarks — it’s 8 inches taller than 5’0″ and sits squarely in the middle of typical adult male ranges.

For anyone comparing heights across international contexts, the key takeaway is simple: use the exact conversion (172.72 cm) and know that regional averages will color how that number is perceived. The math is precise; the interpretation is not.

How to convert feet and inches to cm

The formula in practice

Converting any height from feet and inches to centimeters follows this formula, per SplashLearn (math vocabulary reference): total inches × 2.54 = centimeters. That’s it — multiply by 2.54, and you have your answer.

1. Take your feet value and multiply by 12 to get inches
2. Add any remaining inches
3. Multiply the total by 2.54
4. The result is your height in centimeters

Why this matters: once you know the formula, you can calculate any height without needing a tool. And if a tool gives you something different, you’ll know it’s either rounded or using a different standard.

5′ 8″ is equal to 172.72 centimeters.

— Inch Calculator (conversion tool)

1 inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters: 1″ = 2.54cm.

— RapidTables (reference site)

For anyone working across imperial and metric measurements — whether for medical records, online profiles, or international travel — the exact 172.72 cm conversion removes one more variable from the equation. Readers can use that figure with confidence, knowing it’s verified by multiple independent sources and matches the international standard set in 1959. The confusion around 175 cm being labeled as either 5’8″ or 5’9″ comes down to rounding choices, not math errors — and now you know which number to use depending on whether precision or convenience matters more in your situation.

Related reading: 180 cm in feet · days between dates

Charts compare 5’8″ to nearby heights like 5’7″ and 5’9″, while addressing mix-ups such as 175 cm in feet that hit 5’8.9″.