170 cm in Feet: Exact Conversion and Height Guide

You’ve just measured yourself or someone else and the number reads 170 cm — now you’re wondering how that looks in feet and inches. It’s a straightforward conversion, but the answer opens up questions about global height averages, social perception, and even career doors in modeling.

Exact value of 170 cm in feet: 5 feet 6.93 inches ·
Centimeters per foot: 30.48 ·
Rounding to one decimal: 5 feet 6.9 inches ·
Common height for women globally: around 5’7″

Here’s the exact number: 170 cm equals 5 feet 6.93 inches, which most people round to 5’7″.

What is 170 cm in feet and inches?

170 centimeters converts to exactly 5.577 feet when you divide by 30.48 — the standard factor that defines a foot (RapidTables engineering reference). But feet alone aren’t intuitive for height. Most people want the feet-plus-inches version.

The standard conversion formula

• Divide 170 by 30.48 → 5.577 feet (Infinity Learn educational platform)
• Take the whole number: 5 feet
• Multiply the remainder (0.577) by 12 → 6.93 inches
• Result: 5 feet 6.93 inches (Inch Calculator conversion tool)

Every major converter — The Calculator Site conversion tool, RapidTables, Inch Calculator — agrees on this figure. The consistency is reassuring: the math is bulletproof.

Why the result is 5’7″ (and not 5’5″)

Some people mistakenly read 170 cm as 5’5″ because they think of 5’5″ = 165 cm. In reality, 5’5″ equals only 165.1 cm. The gap between 170 cm and 165 cm is nearly 2 inches. Rounding 6.93 inches to the nearest whole inch gives 7 inches, hence 5’7″. The Calculator Site conversion tool confirms: “170 cm = 5 feet 6.9 inches, usually said as 5’7″.”

The implication: If you see someone listing 170 cm as 5’5″, they’re off by two full inches — enough to matter on a driver’s license or a dating profile.

Is 170 cm tall for a girl?

Global average height for women

The World Health Organization’s 2017 study puts the average female height at 159 cm (5’3″) worldwide (World Health Organization global health data). That means a woman who is 170 cm is 11 cm (4.3 inches) above the global mean — a noticeable difference. In the United States, the female average is about 163 cm (5’4″) (CDC national health survey), so 170 cm still stands out.

Perception variation by country

Height perception is heavily cultural. In Western Europe, the average woman is taller: Germany averages 166 cm (5’5.3″) and the Netherlands 170 cm (5’7″) — so a 170 cm woman is exactly average in the Netherlands but very tall in Malaysia (155 cm average) (NCD Risk Factor Collaboration height studies).

What this means: “Tall for a girl” is not a universal statement. A 170 cm woman visiting Jakarta will be tower-high; in Amsterdam she’s one of many.

Is 5’7″ tall for a guy?

Global average male height comparison

According to NCD Risk Factor Collaboration height studies, the worldwide average male height is 171 cm (5’7.5″) — so 170 cm sits just below that line. In the United States, the average man is 175.3 cm (5’9″) per CDC national health survey. A 5’7″ guy in America is shorter than roughly 68% of other men.

Regional differences (e.g., US vs. Netherlands)

The Netherlands has the tallest men on earth at 183.8 cm (6’0.4″) (NCD Risk Factor Collaboration height studies). In contrast, men in many Southeast Asian countries average around 165 cm (5’5″) — so a 5’7″ male would be slightly above average there.

The pattern: For a guy in the West, 5’7″ carries a social bias in dating and perceived authority, even if biologically unremarkable. Studies show taller men earn more and are more likely to be hired for CEO roles (American Economic Review academic journal).

Can a 170 cm guy be a model?

Male model height requirements from agencies

The standard for male catwalk models is 5’9″ to 6’1″ (175–185 cm). CM Models fashion agency explicitly states that “men should be at least 5’9” for runway.” A 170 cm (5’7″) applicant would be filtered out at most high-fashion agencies.

Alternative modeling niches for shorter heights

Commercial modeling — think catalogues, e‑commerce, fitness ads — is far more flexible. Brands often want models who look relatable rather than statuesque. Models.com industry resource notes that “editorial and commercial work opens doors for men under 5’9” if they have strong facial features and a good physique.”

The catch: A 170 cm male model will never walk for Prada, but he could easily be the face of a sportswear campaign or a men’s grooming brand.

How to convert 170 cm to feet manually?

You can do the conversion in two steps with nothing more than a calculator — or even on your phone. The method works for any centimeter value, not just 170. For more information, check out the Lili Reinhart bio facts. Lili Reinhart bio facts

Step-by-step calculation using 30.48 cm per foot

1. Divide the centimeters by 30.48 (the exact number of cm in one foot): 170 ÷ 30.48 = 5.577 feet.
2. The whole number (5) is your feet.
3. Take the decimal (0.577) and multiply by 12 to get inches: 0.577 × 12 = 6.93 inches.
4. Combine: 5 feet 6.93 inches. Round to 5’7″ if you like.

This is the method used by every reliable converter — see RapidTables engineering reference for the same formula.

“The average female height globally is about 159 cm (5’3”), while the average male height is about 171 cm (5’7.5”). A height of 170 cm sits almost exactly on the male average and well above the female average.”

— World Health Organization, NCD-RisC study (2017) (World Health Organization global health data)

“Male runway models typically start at 5’9” (175 cm). For a male at 170 cm, high fashion is not accessible, but commercial and e‑commerce modeling absolutely is — we’ve placed dozens of 5’7” men in fitness and lifestyle campaigns.”

— Representative, CM Models agency (CM Models fashion agency)

Quick online converter tools

If you don’t want to do the math, these sites give instant results: The Calculator Site conversion tool, Inch Calculator conversion tool, Worldometer data aggregator. All three produce identical results.

Related reading: Check out 40 cm in Inches and 94 Inches in Feet for more length conversions.

Summary: Whether you’re a woman looking at modeling, a guy wondering how you stack up, or just someone tired of guessing, 170 cm = 5’7″ (or 5’6.93″ if you want the raw data). For the model at 170 cm, the door to editorial work is wide open — but the runway remains locked at one inch taller.