5’2” in CM: Exact Height Conversion, Inches, and Meters

Need to know what 5’2” is in centimeters? Whether you’re filling out a medical form, updating a fitness profile, or shopping for clothes in a metric-sized market, getting the wrong number means getting the wrong result. 5 feet 2 inches equals exactly 157.48 cm, and this guide breaks down how to get there, what it means in other units, and where 5’2” stands compared to average heights worldwide.

Quick Answer: What Is 5’2” in CM?

5’2” = 157.48 centimeters. No rounding, no approximation. The conversion factor of 2.54 cm per inch is a defined international standard, so 62 inches × 2.54 = 157.48 cm is exact.

Use our Feet to CM Calculator to convert any height to centimeters instantly.

5’2” in Different Units

5’2” in Centimeters

5 feet 2 inches = 157.48 cm. This is the metric value used on passport applications, medical records, and international ID documents across Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. When a form asks for height in cm, a person who is 5’2” enters 157 or 157.5 (rounded).

The exact math: 62 total inches × 2.54 cm/inch = 157.48 cm.

5’2” in Inches

5’2” = 62 inches total. The apostrophe (’) marks feet and the double quote (”) marks inches. To convert: 5 feet × 12 = 60 inches, plus 2 inches = 62 inches.

This is the base number you need for every other unit conversion. Learn more about the feet-to-inches formula in our guide on how to write height in feet and inches.

5’2” in Meters

5’2” = 1.5748 meters. Divide 157.48 cm by 100, or multiply 62 inches by 0.0254. Both routes give the same result.

Meters are the standard SI unit for height and the format used in most scientific research, international athletics records, and BMI calculations.

5’2” in Decimal Feet

5’2” = 5.1667 feet (rounded to 4 decimal places). Divide 62 inches by 12 to get this value. Decimal feet are used in engineering, construction blueprints, and data entry systems that accept only a single numeric field for height.

Note: 5.17 feet and 5’2” are the same height. A common mistake is reading “5.2 feet” as 5’2”, but 5.2 feet actually equals 5 feet 2.4 inches (62.4 inches), not 5 feet 2 inches (62 inches). Use our Height in Decimal Form Calculator to avoid this confusion.

How to Convert 5’2” to CM

The conversion takes three simple steps. No calculator needed.

Convert Feet to Inches

Multiply the feet portion by 12 (the number of inches in one foot):

5 × 12 = 60 inches

Add the Remaining Inches

Take the inches portion and add it to the result:

60 + 2 = 62 inches

Convert Inches to Centimeters

Multiply the total inches by 2.54:

62 × 2.54 = 157.48 cm

The universal formula for any height: (feet × 12 + inches) × 2.54 = centimeters

Pro Tip: The 2.54 cm-per-inch factor was set by international agreement in 1959 and has never changed. If an online converter gives you 157 cm or 158 cm for 5’2”, it’s rounding. The precise answer is always 157.48 cm.

Is 5’2” Short, Average, or Tall?

For Women

5’2” is slightly below average for women in the United States. The average American woman is 5’4” (162.56 cm), according to CDC NHANES data. At 5’2”, a woman is 2 inches (or about 5 cm) shorter than the national average.

That said, 5’2” is close to the global female average of approximately 5’3” (159.5 cm). In many countries across Asia, Latin America, and parts of Africa, 5’2” is average or above average for women.

For Men

5’2” is well below average for men. The average American man is 5’9” (175.26 cm). A man at 5’2” is 7 inches shorter than the national male average, placing him below the 5th percentile for US adult males.

In countries with shorter average heights, such as the Philippines (5’4” male average), Indonesia (5’4”), and Guatemala (5’4”), the gap narrows significantly.

Global Height Comparison

For a full breakdown by country, visit our Average Height by Country page.

5’2” Compared to Other Heights

5’1” vs 5’2”

The difference is exactly 1 inch (2.54 cm).

5’2” vs 5’3”

The difference is exactly 1 inch (2.54 cm).

5’3” is approximately the global average for adult women, making 5’2” just 1 inch below the worldwide female average.

5’2” vs 5’4”

The difference is exactly 2 inches (5.08 cm).

5’4” is the average height for American women. The 2-inch gap between 5’2” and 5’4” is noticeable but modest, about the width of two fingers side by side. Read the full comparison in our How Tall Is 5’4” post.

5’2” vs 5’7”

The difference is 5 inches (12.7 cm).

5’7” is the starting height for most female fashion modeling agencies and is close to the US male average (5’9”). The 5-inch difference is clearly visible side by side.

Height Percentile for 5’2”

Women

5’2” falls at approximately the 25th percentile for adult women in the United States. This means roughly 25% of American women are 5’2” or shorter, and 75% are taller.

• 10th percentile: approximately 5’0”
• 25th percentile: approximately 5’2”
• 50th percentile: approximately 5’4”
• 75th percentile: approximately 5’6”

Men

5’2” falls below the 5th percentile for adult men in the United States. This means fewer than 5% of American adult men are 5’2” or shorter.

• 5th percentile: approximately 5’4”
• 25th percentile: approximately 5’7”
• 50th percentile: approximately 5’9”
• 75th percentile: approximately 5’11”

Percentile data is based on CDC NHANES surveys of non-institutionalized US adults ages 20 and older.

Common Uses of the 5’2” Height Conversion

Medical Records

Hospitals and electronic health record (EHR) systems worldwide store height in centimeters. In the US, your doctor may record 5’2”, but the system converts it to 157.48 cm (or rounds to 157 cm) for lab calculations, drug dosing charts, and body surface area formulas.

Height in meters is also needed for BMI: a person at 5’2” has a height of 1.5748 m, so the BMI denominator is 1.5748² = 2.48 m².

Fitness and BMI

BMI for a person at 5’2” (1.5748 m):

BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height² (m²)

For a 55 kg person at 5’2”:

• BMI = 55 ÷ (1.5748)² = 55 ÷ 2.48 = 22.2 (healthy range)

For weight in pounds, use: BMI = (weight in lbs × 703) ÷ (height in inches)²

For a 120 lb person at 5’2” (62 inches):

• BMI = (120 × 703) ÷ (62)² = 84,360 ÷ 3,844 = 21.9 (healthy range)

Use our Height in Inches to CM Calculator to get your metric height ready for any fitness app.

Clothing and Apparel Sizing

At 5’2”, clothing fit follows specific patterns:

• Jeans inseam: typically 27–29 inches (petite or short inseam in most brands)
• Petite sizing: most brands define “petite” as 5’4” and under. 5’2” falls squarely in petite range
• Dress length: midi dresses hit below the knee; maxi dresses almost always need hemming
• Heels: adding 3-inch heels brings the visual height to approximately 5’5”

International clothing brands that size by centimeters use 157–158 cm as the reference for 5’2” shoppers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many centimeters is 5’2”?

157.48 cm. Multiply the total inches (62) by 2.54. This is exact, not rounded. On metric forms, you can write 157 cm or 157.5 cm.

How many inches is 5’2”?

62 inches. Five feet equals 60 inches (5 × 12), plus 2 inches gives 62 total. See our detailed breakdown in How Tall Is 5’2” in Inches.

What is 5’2” in meters?

1.5748 meters. Divide 157.48 cm by 100, or multiply 62 inches by 0.0254.

Is 5’2” short for a woman?

Slightly below average in the US, but close to the global average. The average American woman stands 5’4” (162.56 cm), making 5’2” about 2 inches below the US average. Globally, the average female height is approximately 5’3” (159.5 cm), so 5’2” is just 1 inch below the worldwide average.

Is 5’2” short for a man?

Yes, 5’2” is well below average for men in most countries. The average US male height is 5’9” (175.26 cm). At 5’2”, a man is 7 inches shorter than the national average and falls below the 5th percentile.

Convert Other Heights Using Our Height Calculator

Need a different height in centimeters? Our free calculators handle any conversion instantly:

• Feet to CM Calculator: convert any feet-and-inches height to centimeters
• CM to Feet Calculator: go from centimeters back to feet and inches
• Height in Inches to CM Calculator: enter total inches, get metric
• Height in Feet to Inches Calculator: break any height into total inches
• Average Height by Country: see how 5’2” compares globally
• Height Comparisons: side-by-side visual comparisons at popular heights

Whatever the reason for converting, the numbers for 5’2” stay the same: 62 inches, 157.48 cm, 1.5748 meters.