You're standing in a doctor's office or filling out a visa application and suddenly the "feet and inches" system feels like a relic from the Middle Ages. It kinda is. If you've ever wondered how many cm is 5'8, the quick, no-nonsense answer is 172.72 cm.
Most people just round it. 173 cm is the standard "close enough" for a driver's license or a dating profile, but if you’re looking at medical charts or tailoring a suit, those decimals actually start to matter. It's funny how a few millimeters can change how we perceive ourselves.
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The imperial system is weirdly stubborn. While almost the entire world moved on to the logical, base-10 beauty of the metric system, a few of us are still stuck multiplying by 12 and 2.54. It’s confusing. It’s prone to error. Yet, here we are, trying to bridge the gap between two different ways of measuring a human being.
The Raw Math: Breaking Down 5'8 to Centimeters
Let’s get into the weeds of the calculation. To get from 5'8" to centimeters, you have to do a two-step dance. First, convert everything to inches. Since there are 12 inches in a foot, you take 5 times 12, which gives you 60. Add the remaining 8 inches, and you’re looking at a total of 68 inches.
Now, the international yard and pound agreement of 1959—yes, that's a real thing—standardized the inch at exactly 25.4 millimeters. That means 1 inch is precisely 2.54 cm.
Multiply 68 by 2.54.
The result is $172.72$.
It sounds simple when you write it out, but humans are terrible at mental math involving decimals. That’s why you see so much variation. One website tells you it’s 172 cm. Another says 173. If you’re in a country like South Korea or Brazil, being 172.72 cm means you’re basically 173 cm on paper. In the US, you’re just "five-eight."
Why Does This Conversion Even Matter?
You might think, "Who cares about 0.72 centimeters?"
Actually, the aerospace and medical industries care a lot. If a nurse records your height incorrectly during a clinical trial, it can skew Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations or dosage requirements for certain medications that are weight-and-height sensitive. Even in the world of high-end fashion, 5'8" is often the "cutoff" for certain modeling categories. If you're 172 cm, you might be slightly too short for a specific runway requirement that demands 173 cm.
Then there's the psychological aspect.
In many cultures, there’s a weird obsession with round numbers. In the UK or the US, men often feel a "height tax" if they are under 6'0". However, in metric-using countries, the "magic number" is often 180 cm. Being 5'8" puts you right in that middle ground. You’re taller than the global average for men (which sits around 171 cm or 5'7.5"), but you’re not "tall" by modern Western standards. It's a height that is perfectly average, yet the conversion makes it feel like you're constantly negotiating for that extra centimeter.
The Morning vs. Evening Height Reality
Here is a detail most people ignore: your height isn't a fixed number.
If you measure yourself at 5'8" (172.72 cm) at 7:00 AM, you are almost certainly not that height at 7:00 PM. Gravity is a relentless force. Throughout the day, the discs in your spine compress as the fluid is squeezed out. NASA researchers have found that astronauts can grow up to 3% taller in microgravity because their spines decompress.
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On Earth, you might lose a full centimeter—sometimes more—by the end of a long day of standing. So, if you’re exactly 172.72 cm in the morning, you might actually be 171.5 cm by dinner time. When people argue over how many cm is 5'8, they’re often arguing over a measurement that changed while they were talking.
Global Context: Where Does 172.72 cm Stand?
Height is relative. If you’re 5'8" in the Netherlands, you’re going to feel very, very short. The average Dutch male is over 182 cm (roughly 6'0"). If you’re 5'8" in Indonesia or the Philippines, you’re suddenly the tall guy in the room.
According to data from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, which tracks human growth trends globally, human height has been increasing in most parts of the world due to better nutrition and healthcare. However, in the US, height has largely plateaued.
- In Japan, the average height for men is approximately 170.8 cm.
- In the United States, it’s about 175 cm.
- In Montenegro, it’s a staggering 183 cm.
Being 172.72 cm means you are effectively "global average." You fit into standard airplane seats (mostly). You don't have to worry about hitting your head on doorframes. You can buy clothes off the rack in almost any country without needing a specialized tailor. It is the most "functional" height a human can be, even if it doesn't sound as "impressive" as 6'0".
The Problem with Digital Converters
Most people just Google "5'8 to cm" and click the first box they see.
The problem is that some calculators use 2.5 as a multiplier instead of 2.54 because it's easier for the code. This creates a "rounding error" that builds up. If you use 2.5, 68 inches becomes 170 cm. That’s a 2.72 cm difference! That is nearly an entire inch.
Always look for the second decimal place. If a chart doesn't show 172.72, it’s cutting corners.
Real-World Examples: Celebs at 5'8"
Sometimes it helps to visualize what 172.72 cm looks like in the wild.
Tom Cruise is famously cited as being around 5'7" or 5'8". Robert Downey Jr. is often listed in this range as well. When you see them on screen, they often look taller because of "lifts" in their shoes or clever camera angles (the "Low Angle" shot is a miracle worker for the 5'8" crowd).
In the UFC, 5'8" is a very common height for Lightweights or Featherweights. Conor McGregor is 5'9", so he’s just a hair taller than this measurement. In sports, these centimeters are tracked with obsessive detail because reach (ape index) is often correlated with height. A fighter who is 173 cm might have a distinct advantage over someone who is 170 cm, even if they weigh the exact same.
How to Get an Accurate Measurement at Home
If you really want to know if you're 5'8" or actually 173 cm, you can't just lean against a wall and guess. You need a "stadiometer" approach.
- Find a flat, uncarpeted floor. Carpet adds "squish" that ruins the reading.
- Remove your shoes. Even thin socks can add a millimeter.
- Stand with your heels, mid-back, and the back of your head against the wall.
- Look straight ahead (the Frankfort Plane). Don't tilt your chin up; it actually makes you shorter.
- Have someone place a flat object (like a hardback book) on top of your head, parallel to the floor.
- Mark the wall with a pencil.
- Use a metal tape measure. Cloth ones stretch over time and become inaccurate.
If the mark is at 68 inches, you are 172.72 cm. If you hit 68.1 inches, congrats, you've officially crossed into the 173 cm territory.
The Cultural Shift Toward Metric
Why are we still doing this? Honestly, it’s mostly just habit.
The US, Liberia, and Myanmar are the only countries not fully committed to the metric system. For everyone else, "5'8" is a confusing phrase they might hear in a Hollywood movie. If you tell a doctor in Germany you are 5'8", they will likely pause and have to pull up a converter on their phone.
The metric system is fundamentally better for science because it’s based on the physical properties of the universe. A centimeter is defined by how far light travels in a vacuum in a specific fraction of a second. An inch was originally based on the width of a man's thumb or the length of three barleycorns.
It’s easy to see why the world moved on.
Actionable Takeaways for Height Conversion
If you need to use this information for anything official, keep these points in mind so you don't look like an amateur:
- Always use the 2.54 multiplier. Never round to 2.5 unless you’re doing a very rough estimate in your head.
- Specify "Morning Height" for medical records. If you're right on the edge of a requirement, get measured as early as possible.
- Check the rounding rules. If a form asks for your height in cm and only allows whole numbers, 173 is the mathematically correct way to round 172.72.
- Don't lie on dating apps. People can usually spot a 2-3 cm "inflation" instantly. If you say you're 175 cm (5'9") but you're actually 172 cm, the lack of those 3 centimeters is noticeable.
Understanding how many cm is 5'8 isn't just about the number 172.72. It’s about understanding the bridge between two different ways of seeing the world. Whether you’re buying a bike, fitting a wetsuit, or just curious about where you stand in a crowd, that 172.72 cm figure is your definitive baseline.
Double-check your measurements with a metal tape, round up to 173 if you need a whole number, and remember that you're technically taller at breakfast than you are at dinner.