You're standing in front of a height chart or filling out a medical form, and you realize the imperial system has failed you again. It’s a common headache. Converting 5'6 in cm isn't just about moving numbers around; it's about understanding how that specific height translates across different cultures, medical standards, and even dating apps.
Let's just get the math out of the way first. 5'6 is exactly 167.64 cm. Most people just round it up to 168 cm to make themselves feel better, and honestly, who can blame them? In the world of height, those extra millimeters feel like they matter. But if you’re looking for precision—maybe for a tailor, a medical record, or a fitness assessment—167.64 is the magic number.
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Why converting 5'6 in cm is more confusing than it looks
Metric and imperial systems don't play nice. One inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters. When you have five feet, you have 60 inches. Add the six inches, and you're looking at 66 inches total.
Multiply 66 by 2.54. There it is. 167.64.
It sounds simple, but the human brain hates decimals. In countries like the UK or Australia, where people often flip-flop between systems, you’ll hear people say they are "one hundred and sixty-seven centimeters" or "five-six" interchangeably. But they aren't exactly the same. If you tell a doctor in Berlin you're 5'6, they’ll log you as 168 cm because European medical charts rarely use decimals for height unless you’re an infant or a professional athlete.
The global perspective on being 167.64 cm
Height is relative. It's weird.
If you are 167.64 cm in the Netherlands, you might feel like you're living in a land of giants. The average Dutch man is roughly 183 cm (6'0), and the average woman is about 170 cm (5'7). In that context, 5'6 is definitively short. However, hop on a plane to Southeast Asia or parts of Latin America, and suddenly, you’re hovering right at or even above the average. In Vietnam, for example, the average male height has historically trended around 165-168 cm.
Context is everything.
How 5'6 in cm impacts your daily life
Being 5'6 (167.64 cm) puts you in a unique spot. You're in that "middle ground" of the height spectrum. You aren't so short that the world isn't built for you, but you aren't tall enough to reach the top shelf at a grocery store without a little bit of a stretch.
Clothing and the "Standard" Fit
Most "Medium" sized clothing from global brands like H&M or Uniqlo is designed for a body that is roughly 175 cm to 180 cm tall. If you’re 5'6 in cm, you’ve likely noticed that shirts are often a bit too long in the torso. Sleeves might bunch up at the wrists.
It's annoying.
Tailoring becomes your best friend at this height. Even shortening a sleeve by two centimeters can completely change how a jacket looks on a 167 cm frame. The fashion industry calls this the "average-short" range, and while it's underserved, it’s also the height of some of the best-dressed people in history. Think about it. Many Hollywood leading men are famously around this height, even if their IMDB profiles say otherwise.
The Medical Context: BMI and Health
Doctors use your height in centimeters to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). At 167.64 cm, your weight categories shift significantly with just a few pounds.
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$$BMI = \frac{weight(kg)}{height(m)^2}$$
Because your height is the denominator in that equation, being precise matters. If you accidentally list yourself as 170 cm instead of 167 cm, your BMI will appear lower than it actually is. This might not matter for a casual check-up, but for clinical trials or specific health screenings, those three centimeters change the data.
The psychology of the 5'6 measurement
There is a strange stigma around being 5'6, particularly for men in Western cultures. It's often viewed as the "cutoff" for what is considered short. You'll see it on social media all the time—the obsession with being 6'0.
But here’s a reality check: 5'6 (167.64 cm) is actually quite common.
According to the CDC, the average height for an adult female in the United States is about 5'4 (162.5 cm). At 5'6, a woman is taller than average. For men, the U.S. average is roughly 5'9 (175 cm). So a 5'6 man is about three inches below the national average. Is that a big deal? Biologically, no. Socially? Sometimes people make it one.
Interestingly, many athletes thrive at exactly 167-168 cm. In soccer, players like Lionel Messi (often listed around 170 cm but widely rumored to be closer to 168 cm) use their lower center of gravity to dominate the field. Being 5'6 in cm means you have a faster "rate of force development" in many cases. Your limbs are shorter, meaning you can move them through a range of motion faster than someone who is 6'5.
Practical conversion tips for travelers
If you’re traveling and need to provide your height in centimeters, stop trying to do the math in your head while standing at a rental car counter or a bungee jumping platform.
- 5'0" is roughly 152 cm
- 5'3" is roughly 160 cm
- 5'6" is exactly 167.64 cm
- 5'9" is roughly 175 cm
- 6'0" is roughly 183 cm
If you want to look like a local in a metric-using country, just say "one-sixty-eight." No one uses decimals in casual conversation. If you say "one hundred sixty-seven point six four," people will look at you like you're a robot.
Common misconceptions about 167.64 cm
One of the biggest myths is that height is static. You’re actually taller in the morning than you are at night.
Gravity is a beast. Throughout the day, the discs in your spine compress. By the time you go to bed, you might actually be 166.5 cm instead of your morning 167.64 cm. If you’re trying to squeeze every millimeter out of a measurement for a driver's license or a sports physical, get measured at 8:00 AM.
Another misconception? That 5'6 and 168 cm are the exact same thing. They are close, but they aren't identical. 168 cm is actually 5 feet and 6.14 inches. If you’re a stickler for the truth, that 0.14 matters.
The "Height Inflation" Phenomenon
In professional sports and dating, height inflation is rampant. You will see athletes listed at 5'8 who are clearly 5'6 in cm. This creates a warped perception of what 167 cm actually looks like.
When people see someone who is actually 5'6, they often think the person is shorter because they’ve been told that 5'8 looks like... well, 5'6. This "metric creep" makes it hard for people to have an honest conversation about body image. Honestly, owning your 167.64 cm is a power move.
Actionable Steps for Navigating a Metric World
If you are 5'6 and moving to a country that uses centimeters, or if you just want to be more precise in your fitness tracking, here is what you should actually do:
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- Update your health apps: Manually enter 167.6 cm or 168 cm. Apps like MyFitnessPal or Apple Health use these numbers to calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). Accuracy helps with calorie tracking.
- Memorize your "European" size: If you’re shopping for clothes in centimeters, look for "Size 48" in many European jackets, though this varies by brand.
- Measure your reach: Knowing your height is one thing, but knowing your wingspan in cm is arguably more useful for gym-goers performing deadlifts or overhead presses.
- Check your ergonomics: If you work at a desk, 167 cm is a height where standard desk heights (usually 73-75 cm) might actually be a bit too high for optimal shoulder health. Consider a footrest or an adjustable desk.
Precision is great, but don't let the numbers drive you crazy. Whether you call it 5'6 or 167.64 cm, it's just a measurement of how much space you take up in the world. And at this height, you’re in pretty good company with some of the most influential people on the planet.