Converting 171 centimeters gives 5 ft 7.3 in. One multiplication does it — 171 × 0.03280839895 = 5.61023622047 feet — and because the factor is defined rather than measured, that answer will not drift over time.
At 171 cm — 1.71 m — a BMI of 18.5 to 25, the band the WHO calls healthy, runs from 54.1 to 73.1 kg (119 to 161 lb). BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared, so those figures come straight from the height on this page rather than from a chart.
Plenty of people do this in their head: divide by 30 instead of using the exact factor 0.03280839895. At 171 that shortcut gives 5.7 feet, off by 0.08976 feet or about 1.60%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
The formula
171 cm- The quantity being converted
0.03280839895- Exact feet in one centimeter
5.61023622 ft- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Take the centimeter value, 171.
- Multiply by 0.03280839895, the exact number of feet in one centimeter.
- That gives 5.61023622047 feet, or 5 ft 7.3 in.
- The reverse works the same way with division: 5.61023622 ft ÷ 0.03280839895 = 171 cm.
Worked examples
Working it through
Because this is a straight proportion, 171 cm × 0.03280839895 = 5.61023622047 ft (5 ft 7.3 in) — no offset, no second term, nothing else to account for.
Proving it both ways
5.61023622 ft ÷ 0.03280839895 = 171 cm. Recovering the original number is the fastest way to confirm the factor was not applied upside down.
How to read your score
Frequently asked questions
What is 171 centimeters in feet and inches?
The answer is 5 ft 7.3 in — or 5.61023622047 feet before any rounding.
How do you convert centimeters to feet?
Multiply by 0.03280839895. So 171 × 0.03280839895 = 5.61023622 feet. The factor comes from a definition rather than a measurement, so it never changes.
What is 5.61023622 feet back in centimeters?
Divide by 0.03280839895, or multiply by 30.48 — either returns 171 centimeters.
What does 171 cm actually look like?
At 171 cm — 1.71 m — a BMI of 18.5 to 25, the band the WHO calls healthy, runs from 54.1 to 73.1 kg (119 to 161 lb). BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared, so those figures come straight from the height on this page rather than from a chart. The table lower down places it beside its neighbours so you can see where it sits.
What is a centimeter?
One hundredth of a metre, and the everyday metric unit for body measurements and paper sizes.
What is a foot?
Twelve inches, or exactly 0.3048 metres — still standard for human height and aviation altitude in the US.
171 cm in feet — nearby values
| Centimeters | Feet | Unrounded |
|---|---|---|
| 165 cm | 5 ft 5 in | 5.413385827 |
| 166 cm | 5 ft 5.4 in | 5.446194226 |
| 167 cm | 5 ft 5.7 in | 5.479002625 |
| 168 cm | 5 ft 6.1 in | 5.511811024 |
| 169 cm | 5 ft 6.5 in | 5.544619423 |
| 170 cm | 5 ft 6.9 in | 5.577427822 |
| 171 cm | 5 ft 7.3 in | 5.61023622 |
| 172 cm | 5 ft 7.7 in | 5.643044619 |
| 173 cm | 5 ft 8.1 in | 5.675853018 |
| 174 cm | 5 ft 8.5 in | 5.708661417 |
| 175 cm | 5 ft 8.9 in | 5.741469816 |
| 176 cm | 5 ft 9.3 in | 5.774278215 |
| 177 cm | 5 ft 9.7 in | 5.807086614 |
Exact factor: 1 centimeter = 0.0328083989501 feet. The row for 171 cm is the value this page is about.