You’ve probably typed “5 foot 10 in cm” into a search bar at some point—maybe to check your own height, compare with a friend, or settle a debate. The answer is exactly 177.8 centimeters, a figure that sits at an interesting intersection of global averages and social perceptions. What follows is the conversion itself, along with how 5’10” stacks up against population norms and why those two extra inches matter more than you might think.

Don't miss these

4 related posts

5 feet 10 inches in centimeters: 177.8 cm ·
5 feet 10 inches in inches: 70 inches ·
Average height for US men: 5 feet 9 inches ·
Average height for US women: 5 feet 4 inches ·
5 feet 10 inches in meters: 1.78 meters

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether 5’10” is universally considered tall for a man (varies by country and context)
  • The precise attractiveness rating of 5’10” for men—survey results depend on sample demographics
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • As global nutrition improves, average heights may continue rising, shifting the “tall” threshold upward
Measurement Value
Exact conversion 5 ft 10 in = 177.8 cm
Metric equivalent 1.778 meters
US male average (20+ years) 5 ft 9 in (175.3 cm)
US female average (20+ years) 5 ft 4 in (162.6 cm)
Global average (men) 5 ft 7.5 in (171.5 cm)
Global average (women) 5 ft 3.5 in (161.2 cm)

What height is 5ft 10 in cm?

The short answer: 5 feet 10 inches equals exactly 177.8 centimeters. This is a fixed mathematical conversion based on the international definitions of both units (RapidTables.com — international standard conversion table).

Understanding the conversion formula

If you ever need to convert again, the formula is simple and works for any height:

  1. Multiply the feet part by 30.48 (since 1 foot = 30.48 cm exactly) (RapidTables.com — feet to cm definition)
  2. Multiply the inches part by 2.54 (since 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly) (RapidTables.com — inches to cm definition)
  3. Add the two results together

For 5’10”: (5 × 30.48) + (10 × 2.54) = 152.4 + 25.4 = 177.8 cm. The same result is given by Inch Calculator’s height converter and CalculateMe.com.

Quick reference: 5’10” in cm and other units

Here’s how 5’10” rounds in different units—useful for medical records, travel forms, or fitness trackers:

Why this matters

For anyone filling out a medical form in Europe or ordering tailored clothing from a metric-based manufacturer, the difference between 177 cm and 178 cm matters. A 1 cm error in a suit’s inseam or a doctor’s BMI calculation is small but can shift the result out of a healthy range.

The implication: 5’10” is one of the most commonly converted heights because it sits right at the boundary of average-to-tall for men in the US. Understanding the exact conversion avoids the rounding errors that happen when people just type “5 10 in cm” and accept the first result.

Is 178 cm 5’8″ or 5’10”?

It’s 5’10”, not 5’8″—but the confusion is understandable. Here’s exactly why.

Exact conversion of 178 cm to feet and inches

178 cm equals 5 feet 10.07 inches. That tiny 0.07 inch is less than 2 mm, so in everyday life 178 cm is listed as 5’10” (The Calculator Site height chart). Compare this to the exact 5’10” value of 177.8 cm—the difference is just 0.2 cm, less than 1/10 of an inch.

Why people confuse 178 cm with 5’10”

The rounding is the culprit. Many online converters round 178 cm down to 5’10” because 5 feet 10 inches is 177.8 cm—within standard rounding tolerance. Meanwhile, 5’8″ is 172.7 cm (The Calculator Site height chart), a clear 5.3 cm below 178 cm.

The catch

If you’re 178 cm tall, never say “I’m 5’8″.” That would understate your height by over 5 cm. Similarly, if you’re 177 cm (about 5’9.7″), you’re closer to 5’10” than to 5’9″, though many rounding charts call 177 cm “5’9” or “5’10” inconsistently.

The pattern: Most confusion around 177–178 cm comes from chart rounding differences. The RapidTables.com conversion tool shows 5’10” as 177.8 cm, meaning anyone near 178 cm should claim 5’10” without reservation.

Is 5’10” tall for a woman?

Yes, 5’10” is considered tall for a woman in almost every country. To understand why, look at the averages.

Average female height by country

  • United States: 5’4″ (162.6 cm) — per CDC National Health Statistics Report
  • United Kingdom: ~5’5″ (165 cm)
  • Netherlands: ~5’7″ (170 cm) — tallest female average in the world
  • Global average: ~5’3.5″ (161.2 cm)

What is considered tall for women in the US and globally

A woman at 5’10” is 6 inches above the US average—that’s a full standard deviation above the mean. In European countries where average female height ranges from 5’5″ to 5’7″, 5’10” still places a woman in the 90th–95th percentile. Even in the Netherlands (the tallest nation on Earth), 5’10” is 3 inches above the female average.

The paradox

A 5’10” woman is tall everywhere, yet height standards for women in fashion, dating, and professional contexts vary wildly. In runway modeling, 5’10” is often considered minimum height. In everyday life, the same height can attract admiration or unsolicited comments—a double standard few other physical traits carry.

What this means: For women, crossing the 5’10” threshold is the clearest “tall” line in height classification. Below that, you’re typically “above average.” Above that, you’re unambiguously tall.

What Height Is Considered Tall? (in the US + the World!)

Tallness isn’t a universal number—it depends on where you are and who’s standing next to you.

Tall thresholds for men and women in the US

  • Men: 5’11” or taller is typically considered tall in the US, since the average is 5’9″ (CDC National Health Statistics Report). Men at 5’10” are above average but not usually called “tall.”
  • Women: 5’7″ or taller is considered tall in the US, because the average is 5’4″.

Global tall thresholds

  • Netherlands (tallest country): average male height is 6’0″. A man at 6’2″+ would be considered tall; 5’10” is slightly below average.
  • Guatemala (shortest country among men): average male height is ~5’4″. A 5’10” man would be exceptionally tall.
  • Japan: average male height ~5’7″. 5’10” is considered quite tall.
  • Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark): average male ~5’11”. 5’10” is average to slightly below.
The upshot

A 5’10” man visiting the Netherlands might feel average for the first time in his life. A 5’10” woman anywhere will feel tall. That 6-inch advantage for men in the US turns into a 0-inch gap in the Netherlands—a real-world reminder that “tall” is geography-dependent.

The trade-off: For men, 5’10” is a comfortable seat at the table—above the global average but not so tall that clothes fitting is a problem. For women, 5’10” is a definitive threshold that changes how the world interacts with you.

Is 5’10” attractive for a man?

The short answer: 5’10” is generally considered attractive for a man in Western countries, but the data gets more interesting on closer inspection.

Survey data on height and attractiveness

Research in Evolution & Human Behavior found that taller men are perceived as more attractive in Western cultures (ScienceDirect — Evolution & Human Behavior study). A widely cited online dating study by the app Badoo found that women matching with men listed an average preferred height of 5’10”. In OkCupid data, men who listed their height as 5’10” received message rates slightly above average but below the peak at 6’0″ (OkCupid blog — dating data analysis).

Cultural differences in height preferences

  • US/UK/Canada: 5’10” is seen as solidly attractive, especially if paired with good posture and fitness.
  • Nordic countries: where the male average is 5’11″–6’0″, 5’10” may be perceived as slightly short.
  • East Asia: a 5’10” man is often considered tall and attractive, given local averages of 5’7″–5’8″.
  • South America: varies widely, but 5’10” is generally above average and viewed positively.

“In online dating where you can filter by height, 5’10” is often the minimum threshold that women set. It’s the point where height stops being a dealbreaker and becomes a neutral or positive factor.”

— Analysis from OkCupid Blog — dating data trends

“Taller men are perceived as more attractive in Western cultures, but the effect plateaus around average height.”

— Evolutionary psychologist from Evolution & Human Behavior study

Why this matters: For a 5’10” man, the number itself is rarely a disadvantage. The challenge is psychological—constant exposure to “tall” being equated with 6’0″+ in media can create insecurity where none is objectively justified.

Verified vs speculative claims

Confirmed facts

  • 5’10” = 177.8 cm (mathematical equivalence) (RapidTables.com)
  • 178 cm = 5’10.07″ (exact conversion) (The Calculator Site)
  • US average male height ~5’9″ (CDC)
  • US average female height ~5’4″ (CDC)
  • Global male average ~5’7.5″ (Nature Scientific Reports)

What’s unclear

  • Whether 5’10” is universally considered tall for a man (varies by country and social context)
  • Precise attractiveness rating of 5’10” (subjective, survey-dependent)

Converting between feet/inches and centimeters

Each 1-inch increase adds exactly 2.54 cm — the common pattern across these six heights.

Height Inches total Centimeters Meters (rounded)
5’5″ 65 165.1 1.65
5’6″ 66 167.6 1.68
5’7″ 67 170.2 1.70
5’8″ 68 172.7 1.73
5’9″ 69 175.3 1.75
5’10” 70 177.8 1.78
5’11” 71 180.3 1.80
6’0″ 72 182.9 1.83
6’1″ 73 185.4 1.85
6’2″ 74 188.0 1.88
6’3″ 75 190.5 1.91

The pattern: At 5’10”, you’re 2.5 cm taller than a 5’9″ person and 2.5 cm shorter than someone at 5’11”.

Upsides and downsides of being 5’10”

Upsides

  • Above average height in most countries, providing social advantages in dating and professional perception
  • Standard clothing sizes fit well without needing “tall” or “extra tall” alterations
  • Airline seats, cars, and public transport are comfortable—no knee-crushing
  • Perceived as “tall enough” without being intimidating

Downsides

  • May be considered “short” by tall-country standards (Netherlands, Scandinavia)
  • In competitive dating markets, 5’10” is often the minimum threshold, not a standout advantage
  • Media glorification of 6’0″+ can create insecurity at 5’10”
  • Bed sizes typically designed for average heights; may be slightly short if you need more legroom
Additional sources

math.answers.com

Those wondering how 5’10 converts to centimeters can check the 510 in cm conversion for the exact 177.8 cm figure.

FAQ

How many inches is 5’10”?

70 inches total. Multiply the feet by 12 (5 × 12 = 60) and add the remaining 10 inches. (Inch Calculator height converter)

What is 5’10” in meters?

1.778 meters exactly, or 1.78 meters when rounded to two decimal places. (Inch Calculator height converter)

Is 177 cm 5’10”?

177 cm converts to about 5 feet 9.7 inches. In practice, many charts round 177 cm to 5’10” because 5’9″ is 175.3 cm and 5’10” is 177.8 cm. At 177 cm, you’re closer to 5’10” than 5’9″ (The Calculator Site height chart).

How does 5’10” compare to 5’9″ in cm?

5’9″ = 175.26 cm versus 5’10” = 177.8 cm. The difference is 2.54 cm (exactly 1 inch). (The Calculator Site height chart)

Is 5’10” short for a man in the US?

No. The US male average is 5’9″, so 5’10” is 1 inch above average. It’s not considered “tall” (typically 5’11″+), but it’s solidly above average. (CDC National Health Statistics Report)

What percentile height is 5’10” for men in the US?

Approximately the 60th–65th percentile. That means a 5’10” man is taller than about 6 out of 10 American men. (CDC National Health Statistics Report)

Is 5’10” tall for a woman in the Netherlands?

Yes, even in the Netherlands—the tallest country on Earth. The Dutch female average is ~5’7″ (170 cm), so a 5’10” woman is 3 inches taller than average and would be in the 85th–90th percentile.

Related reading