You're standing in a clothing store or maybe filling out a visa application, and there it is: the metric system staring you in the face. Specifically, 170 centimeters. If you grew up in the US, UK, or any spot where feet and inches still rule the roost, that number feels abstract. It’s just a measurement until you realize it’s actually a massive benchmark for global average heights.
So, let's get the math out of the way immediately. 170 cm in feet is approximately 5 feet 7 inches. If you want to be a perfectionist about it, the decimal version is $5.577$ feet. But honestly, nobody says "I'm five-point-five-seven feet tall" unless they're trying to fail a first date. In the real world, we use feet and inches. To get there, you divide 170 by 30.48. That gives you the total feet. Then, you take that decimal remainder and multiply it by 12 to find the inches.
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It’s 5'7". Simple. Sorta.
Why 170 cm in feet is the "Universal Middle Ground"
There is something fascinating about this specific number. It isn't just a random point on a ruler. In many parts of the world, 170 cm is the literal line in the sand between "short" and "average" for men, and "average" and "tall" for women.
According to data from NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, which tracks human growth trends globally, the mean height for adult men worldwide hovers right around this mark. In countries like Vietnam or parts of Central America, 170 cm is actually quite tall for a man. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands or Montenegro—where the average male height can push 183 cm (6 feet)—a 170 cm guy might feel like he’s living in a world built for giants.
It's all about perspective.
You’ve probably noticed this if you’ve ever traveled. In Tokyo, 170 cm feels perfectly standard. It's easy to find clothes that fit. The doorways are high enough. You don't feel cramped in a subway car. Fly to Copenhagen, and suddenly you’re looking up at everyone’s chin.
The Psychology of 5'7"
In the United States, there is a weird, almost subconscious obsession with the 6-foot mark. It’s the "holy grail" of dating profiles and sports recruitment. Because of this, 170 cm (5'7") often gets a bad rap. It’s the height that feels "almost" there but not quite.
But here’s the reality: some of the most influential people in history stood exactly at this height. Tom Cruise? Roughly 170 cm, depending on which tabloid you believe and what shoes he’s wearing. Lionel Messi? He’s actually slightly shorter at 169 cm, but he occupies that same physical space. These aren't people who are "limited" by their stature. They dominate their fields.
Being 170 cm means you are incredibly proportional for most things designed by engineers. Think about car seats. Most automotive ergonomic testing uses a "95th percentile male" and a "5th percentile female" to determine seat travel and steering wheel reach. At 5'7", you are sitting right in the sweet spot where everything—the pedals, the headrest, the lumbar support—actually works the way the designers intended. You aren't "too big" for an airplane seat, and you don't need to duck under low pipes in an old basement.
Converting 170 cm to Feet: The Quick Mental Math Hacks
Maybe you don't have a calculator handy. Maybe you're just trying to figure out how tall that person you're chatting with online actually is. Here is how you do it in your head without breaking a sweat.
Forget the 30.48 divisor for a second. That's too much work.
Instead, remember that 30 cm is roughly one foot.
150 cm is 5 feet.
Now you have 20 cm left over.
Since 2.5 cm is about an inch, you divide 20 by 2.5.
That’s 8.
Wait. Why did the math change?
This is the trap people fall into. Using the "2.5 cm per inch" rule is a quick-and-dirty method that gets you close, but it’s not exact. If you use 2.5, you get 5'8". If you use the real number (2.54), you realize you're actually 5'7". That one centimeter difference matters if you're buying a custom suit or trying to hit a height requirement for a job in aviation or the military.
170 cm in the World of Fashion and Fit
If you are 170 cm tall, shopping for clothes is an adventure in "Standard Fit."
Most "Medium" shirts are designed for a man who is between 5'8" and 5'10". This means at 170 cm, you are often right on the edge. A Medium might be a bit too long in the sleeves, but a Small might be too tight in the shoulders.
The Sleeve Problem
European brands (like Zara or H&M) tend to cut their clothes leaner and slightly shorter in the torso compared to American legacy brands like Gap or Tommy Hilfiger. If you're 170 cm, you’ve likely noticed that a European "Medium" fits your height much better than an American "Medium," which often assumes you have a longer torso.
The Inseam Struggle
The standard "Short" inseam in US pants is 30 inches. If you are 5'7" (170 cm), your natural inseam is likely closer to 28 or 29 inches. This is why you probably have a pile of jeans that are slightly bunched at the ankles.
Pro tip: Don't just settle for the bunching. Finding a tailor who can do a "tapered hem" will change your life. It makes you look taller because it keeps the line of your leg clean. When fabric pools at your shoes, it visually "shortens" you.
Health, Weight, and 170 cm
In medical terms, height is the denominator for almost everything. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) depends entirely on how 170 cm interacts with your weight.
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For someone who is 170 cm, the "healthy" weight range is surprisingly broad. We are talking anywhere from 54 kg to 72 kg (roughly 120 lbs to 158 lbs).
But BMI is a blunt instrument. It doesn't care if that weight is muscle or fat. A 170 cm bodybuilder might weigh 85 kg and be pure granite, yet a BMI calculator would flag them as "obese." If you're 170 cm, your frame is compact. You can carry muscle very well. Because your limbs are shorter than a 6-foot person's, your muscles look "fuller" with less total mass. It’s why many professional bodybuilders in the "212 division" are around this height—they look absolutely massive because the muscle has less bone length to cover.
The Longevity Factor
Here is a weird bit of science for you. Several studies, including long-term research on biological aging published in journals like PLOS ONE, suggest that shorter stature is linked to longer lifespans.
Why? It might come down to the FOXO3 gene. This "longevity gene" is often found in people of shorter stature. Smaller bodies have fewer cells, which means fewer opportunities for cellular mutation (the root of many cancers). Also, a smaller frame puts less strain on the heart. Pumping blood through a 170 cm body is simply easier for the cardiac muscle than pumping it through a 200 cm frame.
So, if you're annoyed that you can't reach the top shelf at the grocery store, just remember you might outlive the guy who can.
170 cm Compared to Other Common Heights
To give you a better "feel" for where 170 cm sits in the hierarchy of heights, look at how it stacks up against other common metric marks:
- 160 cm (5'3"): This is often the average height for women in North America.
- 165 cm (5'5"): A very common height for men in many Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
- 175 cm (5'9"): The "average" height for an American male. At 170 cm, you are only 2 inches below the national average.
- 180 cm (5'11"): The threshold where people start calling you "tall" in casual conversation.
Actionable Steps for the 170 cm Life
Knowing your height is 5'7" is one thing. Living it effectively is another. If you've just realized you're 170 cm, here is how to use that information.
1. Fix Your Ergonomics
If you work at a desk, your chair is likely too high. Most office chairs, at their lowest setting, are still designed for someone 5'10". If your feet aren't flat on the floor, you're putting pressure on your lower back. Buy a small footrest. It sounds like something for old people, but it will stop your legs from falling asleep during Zoom calls.
2. Master the "Monochrome" Look
If you want to appear taller than 170 cm, stop wearing contrasting colors for your top and bottom. If you wear a white shirt and black pants, you're cutting your body in half visually. Wearing similar tones (like a dark navy shirt with dark jeans) creates a vertical line that makes you look leaner and taller.
3. Check Your Bike Fit
Buying a bicycle? You are almost certainly a size "Small" or a "52cm" frame. Many people at 170 cm mistakenly buy a "Medium" (54cm) frame because they think they're average. They end up overstretching their reach, leading to neck pain. Stick to the 52cm. Your joints will thank you.
4. Update Your Travel Profiles
Next time you book a flight, check your "frequent flyer" or "TSA PreCheck" profile. If you've been guessing your height in feet, now you know the truth. 170 cm is 5'7". Accurate data helps in security situations and even in medical emergencies where dosage is calculated by size.
At the end of the day, 170 cm is a fantastic height. You're large enough to navigate the world comfortably but compact enough to avoid the health and ergonomic issues that plague very tall people. You're in the same company as legends, and you fit into most sports cars without hitting your head on the roof. That's a win in any system of measurement.
To get the most out of being 170 cm, prioritize clothing with a 29-inch inseam and ensure your workspace allows your feet to rest flat on the floor to avoid chronic hip strain.