Height difference calculator
Two heights in, the exact gap out: in inches, in centimeters and as a percentage, with both people drawn side by side.
Height difference calculator: the tool
Two people
How the difference is worked out
The difference is simply the taller height minus the shorter one. The percentage depends on which person you start from, so the calculator shows both: if one person is 180 cm and the other 160 cm, the gap is 20 cm, which is 12.5% taller (20 out of 160) or 11.1% shorter (20 out of 180).
Feet and inches without the headache
Mixed feet and inches are the usual source of mistakes. The calculator turns both heights into inches first (5 ft 10 in is 70 in), subtracts, then turns the answer back into feet and inches. One inch is exactly 2.54 cm, so the centimetre answer is exact too.
Compare more than two
For a family, a team or a group of friends, use the height comparison board: it takes any number of people and measures everyone against whoever you tap.
Height difference chart
Common gaps in inches, in centimeters (one inch is exactly 2.54 cm) and as a percentage of two reference heights: 5 ft 4 in (64 in) and 5 ft 10 in (70 in). The same gap is a bigger share of a shorter height.
| Difference | In cm | % of 5 ft 4 in | % of 5 ft 10 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm | 1.6% | 1.4% |
| 2 in | 5.08 cm | 3.1% | 2.9% |
| 3 in | 7.62 cm | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| 4 in | 10.16 cm | 6.2% | 5.7% |
| 5 in | 12.70 cm | 7.8% | 7.1% |
| 6 in | 15.24 cm | 9.4% | 8.6% |
| 7 in | 17.78 cm | 10.9% | 10.0% |
| 8 in | 20.32 cm | 12.5% | 11.4% |
| 9 in | 22.86 cm | 14.1% | 12.9% |
| 10 in | 25.40 cm | 15.6% | 14.3% |
| 11 in | 27.94 cm | 17.2% | 15.7% |
| 12 in | 30.48 cm | 18.8% | 17.1% |
| 13 in | 33.02 cm | 20.3% | 18.6% |
| 14 in | 35.56 cm | 21.9% | 20.0% |
| 15 in | 38.10 cm | 23.4% | 21.4% |
| 16 in | 40.64 cm | 25.0% | 22.9% |
| 17 in | 43.18 cm | 26.6% | 24.3% |
| 18 in | 45.72 cm | 28.1% | 25.7% |
| 19 in | 48.26 cm | 29.7% | 27.1% |
| 20 in | 50.80 cm | 31.2% | 28.6% |
| 21 in | 53.34 cm | 32.8% | 30.0% |
| 22 in | 55.88 cm | 34.4% | 31.4% |
| 23 in | 58.42 cm | 35.9% | 32.9% |
| 24 in | 60.96 cm | 37.5% | 34.3% |
Related tools
Questions
How do I calculate the height difference between two people?
Convert both heights to the same unit (inches or centimeters), then subtract the shorter from the taller. For example 6 ft (72 in) minus 5 ft 6 in (66 in) is 6 inches, or 15.24 cm.
Is a height difference in percent the same both ways?
No. The same gap is a bigger percentage of the shorter height. 180 cm is 12.5% taller than 160 cm, but 160 cm is 11.1% shorter than 180 cm.
How many centimeters is one inch?
Exactly 2.54 cm, by international definition. One foot is 30.48 cm.
Can I share the result?
Yes. Share link copies a link that opens the same two people, and PNG saves the side by side picture.
Sources
- NIST: Refinement of values for the yard and the pound (1959) (checked 2026-10-05)
Last checked: 5 October 2026