You're standing in front of a mirror, or maybe you're filling out a dating profile, and you realize you have no clue how tall you actually are in the imperial system. It happens. Most of the world lives and breathes centimeters, but if you’re in the US, UK, or Canada, you’re likely stuck trying to figure out how many feet are 173 cm without looking like a math textbook.
Let's get the raw numbers out of the way first. 173 centimeters is exactly 5 feet and 8.11 inches.
Most people just round that down to 5'8". It’s a solid height. It’s that middle-ground territory where you aren't exactly towering over people at a concert, but you definitely aren't "short" by global standards either.
The Math Behind the Conversion
Why is this so confusing? Because base-10 math (centimeters) doesn't play nice with base-12 math (inches and feet). It’s annoying.
To find out how many feet are 173 cm, you first divide by 2.54. That gives you the total inches. For 173 cm, that’s about 68.11 inches. Since there are 12 inches in a foot, you divide 68 by 12. You get 5 with a remainder of 8.
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There you go. 5'8".
But wait. If you’re looking at a medical chart or an airplane seat specification, they might use decimals. In pure decimal form, 173 cm is approximately $5.67$ feet. Don't tell your Tinder date you are 5.67 feet tall. They will think you’re a robot. Just say 5'8". Or, if you’re feeling bold, 5'8" and a half.
How 173 cm Feels in the Real World
Height is relative.
If you are 173 cm and walking through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, you might feel like a giant. The average male height in Vietnam is roughly 168 cm (5'6"). However, take that same 173 cm frame to the Netherlands, and suddenly you are looking up at almost everyone. The Dutch average for men is staggering—nearly 183 cm (6'0").
In the United States, 173 cm is just a hair below the average for men, which sits right around 175 cm (5'9"). For women, 173 cm is actually quite tall. The average American woman is about 162 cm (5'4"), so at 173 cm, you’re essentially "model height" territory.
The Clothing Struggle
Being 173 cm creates a specific kind of wardrobe purgatory. You are often caught between "Regular" and "Short" lengths in pants.
- Jeans: You probably hunt for a 30-inch inseam. A 32-inch inseam usually bunches up at your ankles unless you're wearing boots with a chunky heel.
- Sleeves: Most off-the-rack shirts fit okay, but European slim-fit brands might feel a bit tight in the shoulders if you have a wider frame.
- The "Medium" Trap: You are the person the "Medium" size was built for. It’s the most common size, which means it’s always the first one to sell out during a Zara sale.
Why Do We Even Care About 173 cm?
Honestly, humans are obsessed with numbers. We use height as a proxy for authority, attractiveness, and even earning potential. There’s a mountain of sociological research, like the stuff published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, suggesting that taller people get promoted faster.
But 173 cm is a bit of a "chameleon" height.
Depending on your posture, your shoes, and even your hair, you can pass for 5'9" easily. Many Hollywood actors are famously 173 cm, even if their IMDb page claims they are 5'10". Think about guys like Robert Downey Jr. or Tom Cruise. They’ve built entire careers of being "leading man" material while standing right around that 173-175 cm mark. They use "elevators" (hidden lifts in shoes) or specific camera angles to look taller, but in reality, they are living that 5'8" life.
Health, Weight, and 173 cm
When doctors calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI), 173 cm is your baseline. For someone at this height, a "healthy" weight range is typically between 56 kg and 75 kg (roughly 123 to 165 lbs).
Of course, BMI is a blunt instrument. It doesn't know if you've been hitting the squat rack or if you're made of marshmallows. If you have a lot of muscle mass at 173 cm, you might weigh 85 kg and look incredibly fit, even though a BMI calculator would flag you as "overweight."
Accuracy Matters in Sports
In some sports, knowing exactly how many feet are 173 cm is the difference between making a roster and getting cut.
Take combat sports like MMA or boxing. Athletes are often measured in centimeters because it's more precise for calculating reach. If you are 173 cm tall but have a 180 cm reach (the "Ape Index"), you have a massive advantage in your weight class. You can hit people who can't hit you back.
In soccer, 173 cm is often the "sweet spot" for midfielders. You have a lower center of gravity than the 6-foot-tall defenders, which makes you harder to knock off the ball. Lionel Messi is famously shorter (around 170 cm), but the 170-175 cm range is where some of the most agile players in history reside.
Common Misconceptions About the 173 cm Mark
People lie. That’s the biggest misconception.
If you ask ten men who are 173 cm how tall they are, at least eight of them will say they are 5'9". There is a weird social pressure to hit that 5'9" average. Because 173 cm is 5'8.11", it feels "close enough."
Another myth is that 173 cm is "too short" for certain hobbies like basketball or volleyball. While you might not be dunking like LeBron, some of the best defensive players (liberos in volleyball or point guards in basketball) are exactly this height. It’s about how you move your 173 cm, not just the fact that you have them.
Converting 173 cm: The Quick Reference
If you need to write this down for a passport or a medical form, here is how you should handle it:
- Exact Decimal: 5.67585 feet
- Feet and Inches: 5 feet, 8.11 inches
- Rounded for Casual Conversation: 5'8"
- Rounded for a Dating Profile: 5'9" (we won't tell)
- In Total Inches: 68.11 inches
Practical Steps for the 173 cm Individual
If you’ve just realized you are 173 cm, here are a few ways to navigate a world built for slightly taller or slightly shorter people:
- Invest in a Tailor: Since you’re right on the edge of "Regular" sizing, getting your trousers hemmed by just an inch can make you look much sharper and, ironically, taller.
- Check Your Posture: At 5'8", slouching makes you look 5'6". Standing tall with your shoulders back keeps you in that "average" height bracket rather than dropping into "short" territory.
- Use Centimeters for Tracking: If you are on a fitness journey, track your progress in centimeters. It’s a more precise metric for waist circumference and shoulder width than trying to mess with fractions of an inch.
- Don't Stress the Half-Inch: Whether the scale says 172 or 173, your life remains the same. Focus on your proportions. A well-proportioned 173 cm person often looks taller than a lanky 180 cm person with poor posture.
Knowing how many feet are 173 cm is really just about understanding where you fit in the space around you. Whether you're 5'8" on a casual day or 173 cm in a lab, you're in good company. From Hollywood stars to elite athletes, this height is a versatile, functional, and perfectly normal place to be.