What Is 5’8 in Inches? Exact Answer, Chart & Height Guide

introduction to What Is 5’8 in Inches

Quick Answer: 5’8 in inches is exactly 68 inches. Multiply 5 feet by 12 to get 60 inches, then add the remaining 8 inches: 60 + 8 = 68. In metric, 5 feet 8 inches equals 172.72 cm (about 1.73 m), or 5.67 feet in decimal form (5 ⅔ ft).

If you’re filling out a medical form, a fitness app, or an online size chart that asks for height in total inches, 68 is the number to enter for 5’8″. Below you’ll find the formula, the full calculation, a height chart, and practical context for what 5’8″ actually looks like.

How to Convert 5’8 to Inches (The Formula)

Heights written like 5’8″ use two units at once: the first number is feet (marked with ‘) and the second is inches (marked with “). Since 1 foot = 12 inches, the formula is:

Total inches = (feet × 12) + inches

That’s all there is to it. No decimals or rounding are needed, so the answer is always a clean whole number.

Step-by-Step Calculation: 5 Feet 8 Inches to Inches

1. Separate the parts: 5’8″ = 5 feet + 8 inches.
2. Convert feet to inches: 5 × 12 = 60 inches.
3. Add the leftover inches: 60 + 8 = 68 inches.
4. Optional – convert to centimeters: 68 × 2.54 = 172.72 cm.
5. Optional – convert to meters: 172.72 ÷ 100 = 1.7272 m (≈ 1.73 m).

Result: 5’8″ = 68 inches = 172.72 cm = 1.73 m = 5.67 ft.

5’8 in Inches and Centimeters: Height Conversion Chart

Use this chart to compare 5’8″ with nearby heights.

Height (ft/in)	Total Inches	Centimeters	Meters	Decimal Feet
5’0″	60 in	152.40 cm	1.52 m	5.00 ft
5’1″	61 in	154.94 cm	1.55 m	5.08 ft
5’2″	62 in	157.48 cm	1.57 m	5.17 ft
5’3″	63 in	160.02 cm	1.60 m	5.25 ft
5’4″	64 in	162.56 cm	1.63 m	5.33 ft
5’5″	65 in	165.10 cm	1.65 m	5.42 ft
5’6″	66 in	167.64 cm	1.68 m	5.50 ft
5’7″	67 in	170.18 cm	1.70 m	5.58 ft
5’8″	68 in	172.72 cm	1.73 m	5.67 ft
5’9″	69 in	175.26 cm	1.75 m	5.75 ft
5’10”	70 in	177.80 cm	1.78 m	5.83 ft
5’11”	71 in	180.34 cm	1.80 m	5.92 ft
6’0″	72 in	182.88 cm	1.83 m	6.00 ft
6’1″	73 in	185.42 cm	1.85 m	6.08 ft
6’2″	74 in	187.96 cm	1.88 m	6.17 ft

How Tall Is 5’8″ in Real Life?

Numbers are easier to picture next to familiar objects. Here’s how 68 inches compares:

• Standard interior door (80 in): A 5’8″ person has about 12 inches of headroom.
• Kitchen counter (36 in): The counter reaches just past the middle of a 5’8″ person’s body.
• Full-size refrigerator (about 66–70 in): Roughly the same height as someone who is 5’8″.
• Queen bed (80 in long): A 5’8″ person has a foot of extra length to stretch out.
• Average US adult man (about 5’9″): 5’8″ is roughly an inch below the male average.
• Average US adult woman (about 5’3.5″): 5’8″ is about 4–5 inches above the female average.

Is 5’8″ Tall?

It depends on who you’re comparing. For men in the US, 5’8″ is close to average — just slightly under. For women, 5’8″ is considered tall, taller than most adult women in the US and in most countries worldwide.

Healthy Weight Range at 68 Inches

Many people convert 5’8″ to inches to calculate BMI. Using the standard healthy BMI range of 18.5–24.9, a healthy weight for someone who is 68 inches tall is roughly 122 to 164 pounds (about 55 to 74 kg). BMI is only a general screening tool, so muscle mass, age, and body type all matter.

Where You’ll Need This Conversion

• Medical and fitness forms: Doctors’ offices, BMI calculators, and fitness apps often ask for height in total inches.
• Online shopping: Clothing brands list inseam and length charts by height in inches — especially for jeans, wetsuits, and bike frames.
• Furniture and ergonomics: Desk heights, office chairs, and mattress lengths are often recommended by total height.
• Travel and international forms: Passports and visa forms in metric countries ask for height in centimeters (172.72 cm for 5’8″).
• Sports gear: Snowboards, skis, kayak paddles, and bicycles are sized by rider height.
• Dating profiles and job applications: Some platforms only accept height in cm or inches.

Quick Mental Math Trick for 5’8 to Inches

To multiply feet by 12 in your head, split it into ×10 plus ×2:

• 5 × 10 = 50
• 5 × 2 = 10
• 50 + 10 = 60, then add 8 → 68 inches

Another shortcut: memorize that 5 feet = 60 inches. For any height starting with 5, just add the inches to 60. So 5’8″ = 60 + 8 = 68, and 5’11” = 60 + 11 = 71.

For a rough centimeter estimate, multiply inches by 2.5: 68 × 2.5 = 170 cm. The exact answer is a little higher (172.72 cm) because 1 inch is actually 2.54 cm.

Reverse Conversion: 68 Inches Back to Feet and Inches

To convert total inches back into feet and inches:

1. Divide by 12: 68 ÷ 12 = 5 with a remainder of 8.
2. The whole number is feet (5), the remainder is inches (8).
3. Result: 68 inches = 5 feet 8 inches (5’8″).

To go from centimeters back to 5’8″: 172.72 ÷ 2.54 = 68 inches → 5’8″.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Treating 5’8 as 5.8 Feet

This is the most common error. 5’8″ is not 5.8 feet. Since a foot has 12 inches (not 10), 8 inches is 8/12 = 0.67 of a foot. So 5’8″ = 5.67 ft. If you calculate 5.8 × 12, you get 69.6 inches — wrong by more than an inch and a half.

Confusing 5’8 With 5/8 Inch

“5’8″ (five feet eight inches) and “5/8” (five-eighths of an inch, or 0.625 in) look similar when typed quickly, but they’re completely different measurements.

Forgetting to Add the Leftover Inches

Some people stop at 5 × 12 = 60 and forget the extra 8 inches. Always add the second number.

Rounding Centimeters Too Early

If you convert to centimeters, multiply total inches by 2.54 at the end. Rounding 2.54 to 2.5 gives 170 cm, which is off by nearly 3 cm.

FAQs

How many inches is 5’8?

5’8 is exactly 68 inches. Five feet equals 60 inches, and adding 8 more inches gives 68 inches total.

What is 5 feet 8 inches in cm?

5 feet 8 inches is 172.72 centimeters. Multiply the total of 68 inches by 2.54 to get the exact metric height, which rounds to 173 cm or 1.73 meters.

Is 5’8″ tall for a man?

5’8″ is about average for a man in the US — roughly one inch shorter than the typical adult male height of around 5’9″. In many countries, 5’8″ is right at or above the average male height.

Is 5’8″ tall for a woman?

Yes. 5’8″ is considered tall for a woman. It’s about 4–5 inches above the average US adult female height of around 5’3.5″.

What is 5’8 in feet as a decimal?

5’8″ equals 5.67 feet in decimal form (more precisely 5.6667 ft), or 5 ⅔ feet as a fraction. It is not 5.8 feet.

How much taller is 6 feet than 5’8?

6 feet is 72 inches and 5’8″ is 68 inches, so 6 feet is 4 inches (10.16 cm) taller than 5’8″.

What is 68 inches in feet and inches?

68 inches is 5 feet 8 inches. Divide 68 by 12 to get 5 with a remainder of 8.

Final Thoughts

5’8″ is exactly 68 inches, or 172.72 cm. Just multiply the feet by 12 and add the extra inches — and remember that 5’8″ is never the same as 5.8 feet. Bookmark the chart above for quick lookups of any height between 5’0″ and 6’2″.

Also read 130 Inches to Feet: Exact Answer, Formula and Conversion Chart