How to Write Height Correctly
To write height correctly, use the format that matches your measurement system and context. In the Imperial System, write height as 5'7" (apostrophe for feet, quotation mark for inches) or spell it out as 5 ft 7 in. In the Metric System, write height as 170 cm or 1.70 m. The correct height format depends on 3 factors: the measurement system your country uses, the type of document you are filling out, and the style guide governing your writing.
Correct height notation prevents errors on medical records, passport applications, driver's licenses, and professional documents. A misplaced decimal turns 5 feet 7 inches into 5.7 feet (which actually equals 5 feet 8.4 inches). Mixing prime symbols with abbreviations confuses readers. Writing "5'170 cm" makes no sense. These formatting mistakes happen when writers lack clear rules.
This height writing guide covers 3 standard height formats used worldwide, the correct symbols and abbreviations for feet and inches notation, metric height writing rules, formatting requirements for 4 document types (official forms, medical records, academic writing, sports profiles), country-specific height formats for 4 regions, the difference between decimal height and fraction height, 7 common height formatting mistakes, and worked examples for every popular height value.
The 4 core components of writing height correctly are: choosing the right unit system, using proper symbols and abbreviations, following document-specific formatting rules, and avoiding decimal-fraction confusion. This guide covers all four with examples and reference tables.
Standard Height Formats Used Worldwide
There are 3 standard height formats in global use. Each format belongs to a measurement system recognized by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). The correct format depends on your country and document type.
Feet and Inches Format
The feet and inches format expresses height as two values: whole feet plus remaining inches. One foot equals 12 inches (30.48 cm). A height of 67 inches (170.18 cm) becomes 5 feet 7 inches. The United States, Liberia, and Myanmar use this format for daily height communication. The United Kingdom and Canada use it informally alongside metric.
There are 4 valid ways to write feet and inches: 5'7" (symbol shorthand), 5 ft 7 in (abbreviated), 5 feet 7 inches (spelled out), and 5-7 (hyphenated, used on US driver's licenses). Each variation suits different contexts. Symbol shorthand works for casual writing. Abbreviated format works on forms and labels. Spelled-out format works in formal and academic documents.
Centimeters Format
The centimeters format expresses height as a single whole number followed by the abbreviation cm. One centimeter equals 0.3937 inches (0.01 meters). A height of 5'7" converts to 170 cm. Approximately 195 countries use centimeters for official height measurement, including all of continental Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa.
Write centimeters as a number, a space, then the unit: 170 cm. The International System of Units (SI), governed by ISO 80000-1, requires a space between the numeral and the unit symbol. Do not write 170cm (no space) or 170 CM (uppercase). Medical records, WHO growth charts, and international sports databases store height in centimeters.
Meters Format
The meters format expresses height as a decimal value followed by the abbreviation m. One meter equals 100 cm (39.37 inches, 3.281 feet). A height of 170 cm becomes 1.70 m. Scientific papers, BMI calculations (weight in kg / height in m squared), and some European identity documents use this format.
Write meters with 2 decimal places for human height: 1.70 m, not 1.7 m. The trailing zero signals precision to the nearest centimeter. ISO 80000-1 requires a space between the number and the unit symbol. Use a period (not a comma) as the decimal separator in English-language documents. Some European countries use a comma (1,70 m) in their local notation.
| Format | Example | System | Used In |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'7" | Symbol shorthand | Imperial | US, UK (informal) |
| 5 ft 7 in | Abbreviated | Imperial | Forms, labels |
| 5 feet 7 inches | Spelled out | Imperial | Formal writing |
| 170 cm | Centimeters | Metric (SI) | 195+ countries |
| 1.70 m | Meters | Metric (SI) | Science, BMI |
| 67 in | Total inches | Imperial | US medical, fitness |
How to Write Height in Feet and Inches
To write height in feet and inches, place the feet value first, then the inches value, separated by the correct symbol or abbreviation. There are 3 notation styles: symbol notation (5'7"), abbreviated notation (5 ft 7 in), and full notation (5 feet 7 inches). Each has specific rules for symbols, spacing, and punctuation.
Using Feet (') and Inches (") Symbols
The prime symbol (') marks feet. The double prime symbol (") marks inches. In everyday typing, a straight apostrophe replaces the prime, and a straight quotation mark replaces the double prime. Both are accepted in informal writing.
The typographically correct characters are: prime (Unicode U+2032) for feet and double prime (Unicode U+2033) for inches. The Chicago Manual of Style recommends true prime symbols in published work. Most keyboards produce straight quotes by default, and word processors often auto-correct them to curly quotes, which are incorrect for height notation.
Place the symbol directly after the number with no space: 5'7" is correct. 5' 7" (space after the apostrophe) is incorrect. 5 '7" (space before the apostrophe) is incorrect. On Windows, type prime symbols using Alt+8242 (prime) and Alt+8243 (double prime). On Mac, these characters are available through the Character Viewer (Edit > Emoji & Symbols).
Correct Examples
Here are 6 correct ways to write the same height (5 feet 7 inches) in different contexts:
- Casual writing: 5'7"
- Form/label: 5 ft 7 in
- Formal writing: 5 feet 7 inches
- AP Stylebook: 5-foot-7 (before a noun) or 5 feet 7 inches (standalone)
- Driver's license (US): 5-07 or 507
- Typographic (publishing): 5′7″
Common Formatting Errors
These 5 errors appear frequently in written height:
- ✗ 5' 7" - Space between number and symbol
- ✗ 5.7 ft - Decimal feet (5.7 ft = 5 ft 8.4 in, not 5 ft 7 in)
- ✗ 5"7' - Reversed symbols (inches before feet)
- ✗ 5 foot 7 - Singular "foot" instead of plural "feet"
- ✗ 5ft7in - No spaces between elements
How to Write Height in Metric Units
To write height in metric units, follow the rules defined by the International System of Units (SI) and ISO 80000-1. Two metric formats apply to human height: centimeters (cm) and meters (m). Each has specific spacing, capitalization, and decimal rules.
Writing Height in Centimeters
Write the number, then a space, then the lowercase abbreviation cm. Example: 170 cm. Do not write 170CM, 170Cm, or 170cm. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) specifies that unit symbols are never capitalized unless derived from a proper name (Kelvin, Pascal). "Centimeter" derives from Latin, not a person's name, so it stays lowercase.
Do not add a period after cm unless it ends a sentence. The abbreviation "cm" is a symbol, not a contraction. Writing "cm." mid-sentence is incorrect in scientific and technical writing.
For height on medical forms, use whole numbers: 170 cm, not 170.0 cm. A stadiometer measures to the nearest 0.1 cm, but intake forms typically accept integers. For pediatric growth charts, use one decimal place: 98.5 cm.
Writing Height in Meters
Write the decimal value, then a space, then the lowercase letter m. Example: 1.70 m. Use 2 decimal places for human height. The trailing zero after 1.70 communicates precision: this measurement is accurate to the nearest centimeter. Writing 1.7 m implies a precision of only 10 cm (0.1 m), which is too coarse for human height.
Use a period as the decimal separator in English-language text. Some European countries (France, Germany, Spain) use a comma: 1,70 m. The BIPM accepts both formats depending on the language of publication. Match the convention of your target audience.
The meters format is required for BMI calculations: BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)^2. A person standing 170 cm tall uses 1.70 m in the formula. WHO (World Health Organization) publications and most scientific journals express height in meters.
Choosing the Right Metric Format
Use centimeters for everyday height communication and medical records. Use meters for scientific publications and BMI calculations.
- Passport application: 170 cm
- Doctor's office intake form: 170 cm
- Scientific research paper: 1.70 m
- BMI calculation: 1.70 m
- Children's growth chart: 98.5 cm
- Sports profile (FIFA, Olympics): 170 cm
Height Formatting Rules for Different Situations
The correct height format changes based on document type. Official forms, medical records, academic papers, and sports profiles each follow different conventions. Using the wrong format on a form can delay processing or cause data entry errors.
Official Forms and Documents
Enter whole numbers in separate fields for feet and inches, or write a single integer for centimeters. US passport applications request height in feet and inches using two separate boxes. UK passport applications request height in meters and centimeters. Canadian forms accept either format.
US driver's licenses display height as a 3-digit code: 507 means 5 feet 7 inches. Some states use a hyphen: 5-07. Web form validation often rejects symbols like apostrophes, so enter digits only unless the form includes the symbols in its label.
For legal documents (wills, police reports, missing person descriptions), spell out the measurement in full: "five feet seven inches" or "170 centimeters." Spelling out numbers in legal text prevents ambiguity from damaged or poorly photocopied documents.
Medical Records
US medical records use total inches (67 in) or feet and inches (5 ft 7 in). International medical records use centimeters (170 cm). Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems in the US, including Epic and Cerner, store height as total inches internally and display it as feet and inches to clinicians.
Pediatric growth charts from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) use centimeters for children under age 2 (measured lying down as recumbent length) and either centimeters or inches for children ages 2-20 (measured standing). Accurate height notation in medical records affects BMI calculation, medication dosing (body surface area formulas), and growth percentile tracking.
Medical notation for height never uses decimal feet. Writing 5.583 ft on a patient chart is an error. Write 5 ft 7 in, 67 in, or 170 cm.
Academic and Professional Writing
Academic style guides specify different height formats. The AP Stylebook uses hyphenated notation before a noun: "the 5-foot-7 player scored." After a verb, AP spells it out: "The player is 5 feet 7 inches tall." APA Style (Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association) uses metric: "170 cm" or "1.70 m" with a space before the unit symbol.
The Chicago Manual of Style recommends spelling out measurements in nontechnical text: "five feet seven inches." In technical contexts, Chicago permits symbols: 5'7" with prime marks in published work. The MLA Handbook defers to the Chicago Manual for measurement formatting.
Grammar Girl (Mignon Fogarty) summarizes the rule: use figures and abbreviated units in technical writing (5 ft 7 in), spell out measurements in narrative prose (five feet seven inches), and use hyphenation when height functions as a compound adjective (a five-foot-seven athlete).
Sports and Athlete Profiles
Sports databases use centimeters internationally and feet-inches in the US. FIFA, World Athletics, and Olympic records list height in centimeters: 170 cm. The NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL list height in feet and inches: 5'7" or 5-7. ESPN and Sports Illustrated use the AP style: 5-foot-7 as a compound adjective, 5 feet 7 inches standalone.
NBA player profiles historically listed height in shoes. Since 2019, the NBA requires barefoot height measurement, making the listed height about 1 inch (2.54 cm) shorter than pre-2019 listings. This context matters when comparing athlete heights across different data sources.
Height Formats by Country
Height format varies by country. The unit system a country officially uses determines which format appears on government documents, medical records, and daily conversation. Here are the conventions for 4 major regions.
United States
The United States uses feet and inches for all personal height contexts. Driver's licenses show height as feet-inches (5-07). Medical intake forms use feet and inches in separate fields. Casual conversation uses the shorthand: "I'm five-seven" or "I'm 5'7"." US passports request height in feet and inches.
Scientific and medical research in the US uses metric (cm or m) for publication, but clinical settings use feet and inches for patient-facing communication. The dual-system creates a common source of conversion errors in healthcare.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom officially uses metric but culturally uses feet and inches for personal height. NHS (National Health Service) medical records store height in centimeters. UK passports request height in meters. Everyday conversation uses feet and inches: "I'm five foot seven."
The UK Weights and Measures Act of 1985 established metric as the primary system for trade, but excluded personal height and weight from mandatory metrication. This legal exception explains why British people think in feet and inches for height but use centimeters on medical forms.
Canada
Canada officially uses metric but the population uses both systems for height. Canadian passports and health cards display height in centimeters. Driver's licenses in Ontario and Quebec show height in centimeters. Casual conversation splits: older Canadians and those near the US border often use feet and inches; younger Canadians increasingly use centimeters.
Statistics Canada records height in centimeters for all surveys and reports. Health Canada uses centimeters for growth charts and BMI calculations. When writing for a Canadian audience, include both formats: 5 ft 7 in (170 cm).
Europe and Metric Countries
Continental Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Oceania use centimeters for personal height. Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Australia, and India all record height in centimeters on official documents. The notation is the same everywhere: 170 cm with a space before the unit.
The decimal separator varies: France, Germany, and most of continental Europe write 1,70 m (comma). The UK, Australia, and Japan write 1.70 m (period). Match the decimal convention of your target language. In English-language international documents, use a period.
| Country | Official Format | Everyday Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Feet/inches | Feet/inches | 5'7" or 5 ft 7 in |
| United Kingdom | Centimeters | Feet/inches | 170 cm / "five seven" |
| Canada | Centimeters | Mixed | 170 cm or 5'7" |
| Germany | Centimeters | Centimeters | 170 cm or 1,70 m |
| Japan | Centimeters | Centimeters | 170 cm |
| Australia | Centimeters | Centimeters/mixed | 170 cm |
Feet and Inches vs Decimal Height
Decimal height expresses a measurement as a single number with a fractional part: 5.583 feet or 66.93 inches. This differs from the standard feet-and-inches compound notation (5 ft 7 in). Confusing these two formats is the most common height writing mistake.
Understanding Decimal Height
Decimal height converts the inches portion into a fraction of one foot. To convert 5 feet 7 inches to decimal feet: divide 7 by 12, which equals 0.583. The decimal height is 5.583 ft. The number after the decimal point represents a fraction of a foot, not a number of inches.
5.7 feet does NOT equal 5 feet 7 inches. 5.7 feet equals 5 feet 8.4 inches (0.7 x 12 = 8.4). This error appears on spreadsheets, data entry forms, and web applications that store height as a single decimal number without proper conversion logic.
When Decimal Height Is Used
Decimal height appears in 4 contexts: database storage, engineering calculations, spreadsheet formulas, and architectural drawings. Databases store height as a single decimal number for easier sorting and mathematical operations. Excel formulas that calculate averages or standard deviations work with decimal values, not compound feet-inches notation.
Architectural blueprints use decimal feet for dimensional precision in surveying field notes and construction stud spacing. Web form validation systems sometimes store height as decimal inches (67.0) or decimal centimeters (170.0) internally, then display it in the user's preferred format.
Which Format Should You Use?
Use standard notation (5 ft 7 in or 170 cm) for all human-readable contexts. Use decimal height only for data storage and calculations.
- Writing to a person: 5 ft 7 in or 170 cm
- Storing in a database: 67.0 (total inches) or 170.0 (cm)
- Excel/Sheets formula: 5.583 (decimal feet) or 170 (cm)
- Architectural plan: 5.583' (decimal feet with prime)
Common Height Formatting Mistakes
There are 7 common height formatting mistakes. Each one causes misinterpretation, data entry errors, or rejected form submissions. Here is what goes wrong and how to fix it.
Mixing Feet and Decimal Feet
Writing 5.7 when you mean 5 feet 7 inches is the most common height error. The decimal value 5.7 ft equals 5 feet 8.4 inches (0.7 x 12 = 8.4 inches). The correct decimal equivalent of 5 feet 7 inches is 5.583 ft (7 / 12 = 0.583).
This error typically occurs when people enter height into spreadsheets or web forms that accept a single number. The fix: convert inches to a fraction of 12 before recording. Use the formula: decimal feet = feet + (inches / 12). For 5 feet 7 inches: 5 + (7 / 12) = 5.583.
Incorrect Symbols and Abbreviations
Using wrong symbols or abbreviations creates ambiguity. Here are 6 symbol errors and their corrections:
| Error | Problem | Correct Version |
|---|---|---|
| 5"7' | Symbols reversed | 5'7" |
| 5\`7\`\` | Backticks instead of quotes | 5'7" |
| 5ft7in | No spaces | 5 ft 7 in |
| 170 CM | Uppercase unit symbol | 170 cm |
| 170cm. | No space + trailing period | 170 cm |
| 1.70 M | Uppercase m (M = mega) | 1.70 m |
Converting Height Incorrectly
Three conversion errors occur frequently:
1. Using 2.5 instead of 2.54 for the cm-to-inch conversion. 170 cm / 2.5 = 68 inches (wrong). 170 cm / 2.54 = 66.93 inches (correct). The 0.04 difference per inch adds up: at 170 cm, the error is 1.07 inches.
2. Confusing 5'10" with 510 cm. People searching "510 in cm" sometimes mean 5'10" (70 inches = 177.8 cm), not 510 centimeters (which is 16 feet 8.9 inches).
3. Writing 5'12" instead of 6'0". There are only 12 inches in a foot. 5 feet 12 inches equals 6 feet 0 inches. Any inches value of 12 or higher must be converted to additional feet.
Height Formatting Examples
Here are worked examples showing how to write specific heights in every valid format. These cover the most-searched height values.
How to Write 5'7"
5 feet 7 inches equals 67 total inches, 170.18 cm (rounded to 170 cm), 1.70 m, or 5.583 decimal feet.
- Shorthand: 5'7"
- Abbreviated: 5 ft 7 in
- Full: 5 feet 7 inches
- Metric: 170 cm or 1.70 m
- Total inches: 67 in
- Decimal: 5.583 ft
- In a sentence: "The applicant is 5 feet 7 inches tall."
- On a US form: 5 / 7 (in separate fields) or 507
How to Write 170 cm
170 centimeters equals 1.70 m, 66.93 inches, 5 feet 6.93 inches (rounded to 5 ft 7 in), or 5.577 decimal feet.
- Centimeters: 170 cm
- Meters: 1.70 m
- Imperial (rounded): 5 ft 7 in or 5'7"
- Imperial (precise): 5 ft 6.93 in
- Total inches: 66.93 in
- On a metric form: 170 (in a cm field)
- In a sentence: "Patient height: 170 cm."
How to Write 1.70 m
1.70 meters equals 170 cm, 66.93 inches, or 5 ft 6.93 in. Use 2 decimal places. The trailing zero signals centimeter-level precision.
- Meters (correct): 1.70 m
- Meters (European notation): 1,70 m
- Centimeters equivalent: 170 cm
- For BMI formula: 1.70 (height value in meters)
- In a research paper: "Mean height was 1.70 m (SD = 0.08)."
Height in Sentences and Forms
Here are 8 examples of height written correctly in different sentence contexts:
- Narrative prose: "She stands five feet nine inches tall."
- Journalism (AP Style): "The 6-foot-2 forward scored 28 points."
- Medical note: "Ht: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)."
- Police report: "Suspect described as five feet ten inches."
- Dating profile: "5'9" / 175 cm"
- Excel cell: "69" (total inches) or "175" (cm)
- Web form (separate fields): Feet: "5" Inches: "9"
- International document: "Height: 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)"
Height Formatting Cheat Sheet
Use this reference table to find the correct height format for 10 common heights across all notation styles.
| Height | Symbol | Abbreviated | CM | Meters | Decimal Ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in | 5'0" | 5 ft 0 in | 152 cm | 1.52 m | 5.000 |
| 5 ft 3 in | 5'3" | 5 ft 3 in | 160 cm | 1.60 m | 5.250 |
| 5 ft 5 in | 5'5" | 5 ft 5 in | 165 cm | 1.65 m | 5.417 |
| 5 ft 6 in | 5'6" | 5 ft 6 in | 168 cm | 1.68 m | 5.500 |
| 5 ft 7 in | 5'7" | 5 ft 7 in | 170 cm | 1.70 m | 5.583 |
| 5 ft 8 in | 5'8" | 5 ft 8 in | 173 cm | 1.73 m | 5.667 |
| 5 ft 9 in | 5'9" | 5 ft 9 in | 175 cm | 1.75 m | 5.750 |
| 5 ft 10 in | 5'10" | 5 ft 10 in | 178 cm | 1.78 m | 5.833 |
| 5 ft 11 in | 5'11" | 5 ft 11 in | 180 cm | 1.80 m | 5.917 |
| 6 ft 0 in | 6'0" | 6 ft 0 in | 183 cm | 1.83 m | 6.000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
To write height correctly, match your format to the measurement system and document type. Use 5'7" or 5 ft 7 in for imperial contexts. Use 170 cm for metric contexts. Use 1.70 m for scientific publications and BMI calculations. Place the correct symbol directly after the number (no space for feet/inches symbols, one space for metric unit abbreviations).
The 3 rules that prevent most height formatting errors: (1) never confuse decimal feet with feet-and-inches notation (5.7 ft is NOT 5 ft 7 in), (2) keep unit symbols lowercase (cm, m, ft, in), and (3) do not mix measurement systems in a single expression.
Use the Inches to CM Calculator to convert between formats, or check the Height Formatting Guides hub for specific formatting questions including 5'7" vs 5 ft 7 in notation, height formats by country, and decimal vs fraction height.