Height comparison
5'5" vs 5'8" Height Comparison
5'8" is 3 inches (7.6 cm) taller than 5'5" — about 4.6% taller.
- 5'5"
- 165.1 cm
- 5'8"
- 172.7 cm
- Difference
- 3 inches
- Percentage difference
- 4.6%
See it on the chart
The chart is preloaded with these heights. Rename them, add more people or switch units — it is the full comparison tool.
5'5" vs 5'8" in numbers
| Feet / inches | Centimeters | Total inches |
|---|---|---|
| 5'5" | 165.1 cm | 65 |
| 5'8" | 172.7 cm | 68 |
| Difference | 7.6 cm | 3 |
Ratio: 1.046 · Percentage difference: 4.6%
5'5" and 5'8" in other units
| Unit | 5'5" | 5'8" |
|---|---|---|
| Centimeters | 165.1 | 172.72 |
| Meters | 1.651 | 1.727 |
| Millimeters | 1,651 | 1,727 |
| Total inches | 65 | 68 |
| Feet (decimal) | 5.417 | 5.667 |
What does a height difference of 3 inches look like?
A difference of 3 inches is noticeable when the two stand together: the top of the shorter person's head reaches about the taller person's forehead. From a distance it is easy to miss, and ordinary shoes (2–3 cm) can hide part of it.
In everyday terms, 7.6 cm is about the length of the long side of a credit card (8.6 cm).
Shoes change what you see. If only one person wears shoes that add about 2.5 cm, the visible gap becomes roughly 5.1 cm or 10.1 cm, depending on who is wearing them.
Converting 5'5" and 5'8" step by step
Both heights convert with the exact definitions 1 ft = 30.48 cm and 1 in = 2.54 cm, so these results are exact rather than approximations:
5'5" = 5 × 30.48 + 5 × 2.54 = 165.1 cm5'8" = 5 × 30.48 + 8 × 2.54 = 172.72 cm
Subtracting one from the other gives 7.62 cm, which is exactly 3 × 2.54 cm. Because every inch is the same size, the gap in centimeters is always the gap in inches multiplied by 2.54.
How 5'5" and 5'8" rank among adults
5'5" is taller than about 9% of adult men and 70% of adult women in the US.
5'8" is taller than about 37% of adult men and 95% of adult women in the US.
Going from 5'5" to 5'8" moves you past roughly 28% of men and 25% of women — that is how much ground a 7.6 cm gap covers in the middle of the population.
Percentiles are estimated from the CDC averages, assuming heights follow a normal distribution with a standard deviation of about 7.6 cm for men and 7.1 cm for women. Real distributions differ slightly at the extremes.
Compared with average heights
- 5'5" is 10.2 cm shorter than the average US man (175.3 cm).
- 5'5" is 3.8 cm taller than the average US woman (161.3 cm).
- 5'8" is 2.6 cm shorter than the average US man (175.3 cm).
- 5'8" is 11.4 cm taller than the average US woman (161.3 cm).
Averages: CDC anthropometric reference data for US adults, 2015–2018.
Why 5'5" vs 5'8" can look different in real life
Spinal discs compress during the day, so most adults measure about 1–2 cm shorter in the evening than in the morning. If 5'5" was measured in the morning and 5'8" at night, the real gap could be bigger than 7.6 cm.
Posture matters too. Standing against a wall with heels, back and head touching it is the standard clinical method, and a relaxed stance can lose another centimeter or two.
Finally, many people round their height up. Someone who says they are 5'8" may measure a little under it, so treat self-reported heights as approximate and put measured values into the chart when the difference matters.
Frequently asked questions
How much taller is 5'8" than 5'5"?
5'8" is 3 inches (7.6 cm) taller than 5'5". The taller height is 4.6% greater, so on a chart drawn to scale it stands 1.046 times as tall.
How tall is 5'5" in centimeters?
5'5" is 165.1 cm, or 65 inches in total.
How tall is 5'8" in centimeters?
5'8" is 172.7 cm, or 68 inches in total.
Is a height difference of 3 inches noticeable?
A difference of 3 inches is noticeable when the two stand together: the top of the shorter person's head reaches about the taller person's forehead. From a distance it is easy to miss, and ordinary shoes (2–3 cm) can hide part of it.
What percentage of adults are shorter than 5'5"?
5'5" is taller than about 9% of adult men and 70% of adult women in the US.
What percentage of adults are shorter than 5'8"?
5'8" is taller than about 37% of adult men and 95% of adult women in the US.