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Height Formatting

Height Formatting Guides

Writing height seems simple until you need to get it right. Is it 5'7" or 5 ft 7 in? Does a passport form want centimeters or feet and inches? Should a medical record say 170 cm or 1.70 m? The answers differ by country, context, and document type.

There are two main systems: imperial (feet and inches, used in the US) and metric (centimeters and meters, used almost everywhere else). Within each system, there are multiple valid formats. 5'7" and 5 ft 7 in mean the same thing, but one is informal and one is preferred in official contexts.

This section covers the rules for every major height format: when to use each one, where each one is expected, and the mistakes that cause confusion.

Start With the Complete Guide

PILLAR GUIDE

How to Write Height Correctly

Learn the correct way to write height in feet, inches, centimeters, and meters. Understand symbols, abbreviations, formatting rules, and common mistakes.

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Learn Height Formatting Rules

Each guide covers one formatting question in depth - with examples, rules, and the context where each format applies.

5'7" vs 5 ft 7 in - Which Is Correct?

Learn when to use apostrophes, quotation marks, abbreviations, and fully written height formats.

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Height in Different Countries

See how people write and communicate height in the US, UK, Europe, and metric countries.

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How to Format Height on Forms

Learn the correct height format for medical records, passports, school forms, and job applications.

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Decimal Height vs Fraction Height

Understand the difference between decimal formats such as 5.75 ft and traditional formats such as 5′9″.

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Popular Height Writing Formats

Seven formats are in active use. Here is what each one means, an example sentence, and when it is expected.

5'7" Imperial shorthand

He is 5'7" tall.

Apostrophe for feet, quotation mark for inches. Common in casual and journalistic writing.

5 ft 7 in Imperial spelled-out

Height: 5 ft 7 in

Preferred on forms, labels, and formal documents. Less ambiguous than symbol notation.

170 cm Metric centimeters

Height: 170 cm

Used in most countries for everyday and medical height. Always a whole or decimal number.

1.70 m Metric meters

Height: 1.70 m

Common in scientific contexts and countries that prefer meter notation over centimeters.

5.583 ft Decimal feet

Height: 5.583 ft

Used in data entry and engineering. Not used in everyday speech. Convert to ft/in for display.

67 in Total inches

Height: 67 in

Common in US medical and fitness databases. Easier to store and sort than split ft/in values.

5′7″ Typographic primes

Height: 5′7″

Uses true prime (′) and double prime (″) symbols. Typographically correct but rarely used outside publishing.

Popular Height Conversion Tools

Once you know the format you need, use these calculators to convert the value.

Inches to CM Calculator

Convert inches to centimeters. Formula: in × 2.54.

Feet to Inches Calculator

Convert feet and inches to total inches. Formula: (ft × 12) + in.

Inches to Feet Calculator

Convert total inches back to feet and inches notation.

Inches to Meters Calculator

Convert inches to meters for scientific or international use.

Height in Decimal Form

Express height as decimal feet, inches, or meters for data entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the correct way to write height?

It depends on the system you are using. In the imperial system, height is written as 5'7" (apostrophe for feet, quotation mark for inches) or spelled out as 5 ft 7 in. In the metric system, height is written as 170 cm or 1.70 m. For official and medical documents, spell out the units in full: 5 feet 7 inches or 170 centimeters.

Is 5'7" the same as 5 ft 7 in?

Yes. Both formats express the same height. The 5'7" notation uses typographic symbols for feet (apostrophe) and inches (quotation mark). The 5 ft 7 in format spells out the abbreviations. For informal writing, both are acceptable. For formal documents and medical records, the spelled-out format is preferred.

How should height be written on official forms?

Most official forms, including medical records, passport applications, and government documents, require height in separate feet and inches fields or as a whole centimeter value. In the US and UK, write feet and inches in separate boxes. In most other countries, write the height in centimeters as a whole number, for example 170 for 170 cm. Always check the specific form instructions, since formats vary by country and document type.

Should height be written in cm or feet and inches?

The correct unit depends on your country and context. The United States and a small number of other countries use feet and inches for everyday height. Most of the world uses centimeters. Scientific and medical contexts often prefer centimeters regardless of country. When writing for an international audience, include both: 5 ft 7 in (170 cm).

What symbols are used when writing height?

The prime symbol (′) represents feet and the double prime symbol (″) represents inches. In casual writing, an apostrophe (') stands in for feet and a quotation mark (") stands in for inches. Abbreviations are ft for feet, in for inches, cm for centimeters, and m for meters. Avoid mixing systems in the same measurement.

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