Few numbers are as handy to know in both imperial and metric as your height. If you’re 5 ft 7 in and need the exact centimeter value, you’ve hit the right spot: 170.18 cm. Beyond the calculator, we’ll look at how that number stacks up against global averages and what it means depending on whether you’re a man or a woman.

4 related posts

5 ft 7 in in centimeters: 170.18 cm ·
Average male height (USA): 5 ft 9 in (175.3 cm) ·
Average female height (USA): 5 ft 4 in (162.6 cm) ·
Global average male height: 5 ft 7.5 in (171 cm)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • 5 ft 7 in equals 170.18 cm precisely (Inch Calculator)
  • US average male height is 5 ft 9 in (CDC)
  • US average female height is 5 ft 4 in (CDC)
2What’s unclear
  • Whether 5’7″ is seen as tall or short varies heavily by country and culture
  • Self-reported height is often inflated, making surveys less reliable
  • Global average male height is approximately 171 cm but varies by survey methodology
  • Global average female height is approximately 160 cm but varies by country
  • The exact threshold for ‘tall’ vs ‘short’ depends on context and cannot be universally defined
3Timeline signal
  • Global adult height has increased ~1 cm per decade since 1900
  • No reversal expected; 5’7″ remains near the worldwide male average
4What’s next
  • Use the step-by-step conversion below to check any height
  • Compare your height to country-specific averages for context

Five key data points about 5 ft 7 in and its metric equivalents, drawn from conversion tools and official surveys:

Label Value
5’7″ in centimeters 170.18 cm
5’7″ in inches (total) 67 inches
Average male height (US) 5’9″ (175.3 cm)
Average female height (US) 5’4″ (162.6 cm)
Height of 170 cm expressed in feet/inches 5 ft 6.93 in

What height is 5 ft 7 in cm?

Step-by-step conversion from feet and inches to centimeters

  • Start with 5 ft: 5 × 12 = 60 inches (RapidTables)
  • Add the remaining 7 inches: 60 + 7 = 67 inches total
  • Multiply by 2.54 (the exact conversion factor): 67 × 2.54 = 170.18 cm

That formula works for any height. The same method is used in math tutorials (Math with Mr. J on YouTube) and educational spreadsheets (Scribd).

Common conversion errors and how to avoid them

  • Forgetting that 5 ft = 60 inches, not 50 inches.
  • Rounding 2.54 to 2.5 – that loses 2.68 cm over 67 inches.
  • Confusing 170 cm with 5’8″ (see next section for the exact difference).
Why this matters

Even a tiny rounding error changes how someone’s height is recorded on medical forms or dating profiles. Using the precise 170.18 cm keeps you accurate across continents.

The implication: Getting the conversion right matters for accuracy in medical and personal contexts.

Is 170 cm 5’7″ or 5’8″?

Why 170 cm rounds to 5’7″ (not 5’8″)

170 cm is exactly 5 ft 6.93 in. Since you can’t say “5 foot 6.93 inches” in casual conversation, it’s always rounded down to 5’7″. The next full inch, 5’8″, equals 172.72 cm – a full 2.54 cm taller. So 170 cm is closer to 5’7″ by almost a full inch.

The difference between 170 cm and 5’8″ (172.7 cm)

  • 5’8″ = 68 inches × 2.54 = 172.72 cm (RapidTables)
  • 5’7″ = 67 inches × 2.54 = 170.18 cm
  • The gap is 2.54 cm (one inch exactly).

The pattern: a single inch difference creates a noticeable gap of 2.54 cm, which matters in contexts like clothing inseams or door-frame clearance.

How tall is a 168 cm person?

168 cm in feet and inches

168 cm converts to 5 ft 6.14 in, typically rounded to 5’6″. The math: 168 ÷ 2.54 = 66.14 inches = 5 ft 6.14 in.

How 168 cm compares to average heights

  • Global average male: ~171 cm – so 168 cm is slightly below.
  • US average female: 162.6 cm – so 168 cm is about 5.4 cm above.
  • Many Asian country averages fall near 165-168 cm for men, meaning 168 cm is close to local averages there.
The catch

People often misremember 168 cm as “5’7″” because both numbers feel interchangeable. But the 2.5 cm gap between 168 and 170 cm can shift a person from “below average” to “average” depending on the region.

The pattern: Small differences in height can change how a person is categorized relative to averages.

Is 5’7″ (170 cm) tall for a guy?

Average male height in different countries

  • United States: 5 ft 9 in (175.3 cm) – 5’7″ is below average (CDC)
  • United Kingdom: ~5 ft 9 in – similar below-average context.
  • Netherlands: ~6 ft 0 in – 5’7″ is notably short.
  • Indonesia/Philippines: ~5 ft 4 in men – 5’7″ is above average.

Perception of 5’7″ across cultures

In countries with a taller average, a 5’7″ man may feel short. In many Asian and Latin American nations, 5’7″ is unremarkable or even slightly tall. Self-reported height surveys often add 1–2 inches (NIH study on bias), which skews how people perceive “normal.”

Factors influencing whether 5’7″ is considered tall or short

  • Height of the surrounding peer group (workplace, sports, social circles).
  • Cultural media portrayal of ideal male height (often 5’10″+ in Western film).
  • Shoe lifts and posture can add 1–2 inches, adjusting perception.

The implication: For a man living in the US or Western Europe, 5’7″ sits below the average, but in a global context it’s almost exactly average – a nuance most height calculators miss.

Is 5’7″ tall for a girl?

Average female height in different countries

  • United States: 5 ft 4 in (162.6 cm) – 5’7″ is 3 inches above average (CDC)
  • United Kingdom: ~5 ft 4 in – similarly above average.
  • Netherlands: ~5 ft 7 in men average; women ~5 ft 6 in – so 5’7″ is just above female average.
  • Mexico/Brazil: ~5 ft 2 in – 5’7″ is significantly above average.

How 5’7″ compares to global female averages

Global female average is about 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) (WorldData). At 5’7″, a woman is taller than roughly 80% of women worldwide – so it’s objectively above average in most places.

Cultural norms and height perception for women

  • Modeling and fashion often set a minimum height around 5’8″, so 5’7″ is close but not quite there.
  • Dating preferences in many cultures do not penalize taller women as they once did; 5’7″ is often seen as “tall but not imposing.”
  • Heels become a consideration – adding 3 inches puts a 5’7″ woman at eye level with a 5’10” man.

Why this matters: For women, 5’7″ is a genuine advantage in stature without crossing into “too tall” for most social contexts.

Pros and Cons of being 5’7″

Upsides

  • Globally average for men – fits most standard sizing (clothes, cars, airplanes).
  • Above average height for women – often perceived as elegant and healthy.
  • Easy to convert and remember: just under 171 cm.

Downsides

  • Below average in tall countries (US, UK, Netherlands) – may affect dating or sports perception for men.
  • Often grouped with 5’6″ in conversation, losing the inch difference.
  • Not quite tall enough for certain fashion/modeling thresholds.

Step-by-step conversion guide

  1. Write down your height in feet and inches (e.g., 5 ft 7 in).
  2. Convert feet to inches: multiply feet × 12. (5 × 12 = 60)
  3. Add the remaining inches: 60 + 7 = 67 inches total.
  4. Multiply total inches by 2.54: 67 × 2.54 = 170.18 cm
  5. Optional: divide by 100 to get meters (1.7018 m).

The pattern: This method works for any height and is universally accepted.

Clarity: what we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

  • 5 ft 7 in = 170.18 cm exactly
  • 168 cm = 5 ft 6.14 in
  • US average male height is 5 ft 9 in (175.3 cm)
  • US average female height is 5 ft 4 in (162.6 cm)
  • 5 ft 8 in = 172.72 cm

What’s unclear

  • Whether 5’7″ is considered tall for a guy depends heavily on regional averages and self-report bias.
  • Self-perception of height is often inflated by 1-2 inches in surveys (NIH study).

“The average height for adult men in the United States is 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 centimeters).”

– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

“To convert 5 feet 7 inches to centimeters, multiply the total number of inches (67) by 2.54, giving 170.18 centimeters.”

– Inch Calculator

What this means: The conversion is exact, but its interpretation varies by context.

Summary

5 ft 7 in equals exactly 170.18 cm, landing near the global male average but below the US average for men, and above the US average for women. The conversion itself is straightforward, but the social read of that height changes with the ruler of the room. For anyone filling out a form or a dating profile, the precise number matters less than the context around it: 170 cm might read as average globally, but in some circles it’s short, in others it’s tall. For a reader in the US or Western Europe, the takeaway is that 5’7″ sits below local averages for men but comfortably above for women – a difference of 3 inches of perception shaped by just 2.54 cm per inch.

Related reading: 12.5 Stone in kg – NHS Exact Conversion Guide and Chart

Additional sources

math.answers.com, youtube.com

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

How tall is a 5’7″ girl in centimeters?

A girl who is 5 ft 7 in tall measures 170.18 cm.

Is 170 cm too short for a guy?

In the US, 170 cm (5’7″) is about 2 inches below the male average of 5’9″. In many other countries it’s near average, so “too short” depends on your region and social circle.

Is 168 cm short for a guy?

168 cm (5’6″) is below the global male average of ~171 cm and below the US average. It’s considered on the shorter side in most Western countries.

What is considered a short height for a woman?

In the US, below 5’4″ (162.6 cm) is below average. Globally, under 5’2″ (157 cm) is often considered short for women.

Am I too short? (general guidance)

Height is just one factor in confidence and health. Unless a medical condition is present, being shorter than average is normal and does not limit quality of life. Focus on posture, fitness, and self-image.