Converting 173 centimeters gives 5 ft 8.1 in. One multiplication does it — 173 × 0.03280839895 = 5.67585301837 feet — and because the factor is defined rather than measured, that answer will not drift over time.
At 173 cm — 1.73 m — a BMI of 18.5 to 25, the band the WHO calls healthy, runs from 55.4 to 74.8 kg (122 to 165 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 173 that shortcut gives 5.7666667 feet, off by 0.09081 feet or about 1.60%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
The formula
173 cm- The quantity being converted
0.03280839895- Exact feet in one centimeter
5.675853018 ft- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Take the centimeter value, 173.
- Multiply by 0.03280839895, the exact number of feet in one centimeter.
- Result: 5.67585301837 feet — 5 ft 8.1 in.
- To reverse it, divide by 0.03280839895 instead: 5.675853018 ft ÷ 0.03280839895 returns 173 cm.
Worked examples
The calculation
173 cm × 0.03280839895 = 5.67585301837 ft (5 ft 8.1 in). One multiplication, with no rounding until the value reaches the screen.
The sanity check
5.675853018 ft ÷ 0.03280839895 = 173 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 173 centimeters in feet and inches?
The answer is 5 ft 8.1 in — or 5.67585301837 feet before any rounding.
How do you convert centimeters to feet?
Multiply by 0.03280839895. So 173 × 0.03280839895 = 5.675853018 feet. The factor comes from a definition rather than a measurement, so it never changes.
What is 5.675853018 feet back in centimeters?
Divide by 0.03280839895, or multiply by 30.48 — either returns 173 centimeters.
What does 173 cm actually look like?
At 173 cm — 1.73 m — a BMI of 18.5 to 25, the band the WHO calls healthy, runs from 55.4 to 74.8 kg (122 to 165 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.
173 cm in feet — nearby values
| Centimeters | Feet | Unrounded |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 178 cm | 5 ft 10.1 in | 5.839895013 |
| 179 cm | 5 ft 10.5 in | 5.872703412 |
Exact factor: 1 centimeter = 0.0328083989501 feet. The row for 173 cm is the value this page is about.