NIST lists Barack Obama at 1.85 m, or 185 cm. The chart compares him with Abraham Lincoln, another US president, using NIST historical reference values and separately licensed real photographs.
How tall is Barack Obama in feet and centimeters?
The 185 cm reference value converts to approximately 6 feet 0.8 inches, commonly rounded to about 6 feet 1 inch. These are different ways to express the same rounded metric reference; a calculated decimal does not make the historical evidence more precise.
You can reproduce the conversion in the height converter. Enter 185 with centimeters selected, then read the feet-and-inches result. If you are working with several historical figures, the bulk height converter can convert a list and export a CSV for a classroom or article.
Obama versus Lincoln: what is the height difference?
The NIST reference values differ by 8 cm. This is a comparison within the same country and office, rather than a mixed list of unrelated public figures. Both records use the same reference publisher, which makes the basis for the subtraction easy to inspect.
| Person | Height | Evidence / source |
|---|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln | 193 cm | Historical reference listing National Institute of Standards and Technology Checked 2026-10-24 |
| Barack Obama | 185 cm | Historical reference listing NIST Checked 2026-10-24 |
Source check: 29 October 2026. See NIST’s Presidents and Measurements table. Its educational reference lists rounded historical statures; HeightCompare has not independently measured these people. The library table preserves each record’s earlier review date.
Use the comparison in a lesson
Start with a prediction: which figure will appear taller when both are placed on the same baseline? Then compare the labels and subtract the smaller centimeter value from the larger one. Ask learners to express the difference in meters, and explain why converting units does not change the underlying difference.
A useful follow-up is to compare the visual impression with the evidence. The photographs were taken at different times and with different camera arrangements. Clothing and pose are visible in the photographs, but neither supplies a reliable ruler. Our education guide provides more ways to use comparison charts in class.
Add yourself or create a comparison card
- Open Add people or your height.
- Enter a known standing height and a label of your choice.
- Use the chart’s pair comparison to read the difference.
- Choose Create image and inspect the card preview before exporting. Retain the photo source and credit information.
For a personal photo comparison, start in the photo studio. Use a full-length standing photo and follow the upload and cropping guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does 185 cm equal exactly 6 feet 1 inch?
No. Six feet one inch converts to 185.42 cm. The difference illustrates ordinary rounding between units.
Can these photos prove the listed heights?
No. They illustrate the people, while the cited reference values set the chart scale. Camera perspective and pose prevent a photograph alone from establishing stature.
Where can I compare other US presidents?
Open the US presidents height comparison for a wider selection and its reference table. For historical sources and corrections, see our methodology.
Real photos and reuse credits
- Abraham Lincoln: Thomas Le Mere / Mathew Brady Studio; Smithsonian Institution digitization. Original photo and permission details. Public domain — 1863 photograph. Cropped to the standing subject and resized; original sepia photograph retained. No reconstruction or generated body. Historical standing portrait, 17 April 1863. Slight lean with a hand resting on a table; dark footwear and period clothing limit precise alignment. NIST reference height sets scale.
- Barack Obama: Chuck Kennedy / The White House. Original photo and permission details. Public domain — US government photograph. Cropped from the 2009 cabinet group photograph to Barack Obama and resized. Original colors retained. No endorsement implied. Full-length standing group portrait, 10 September 2009. Shoes included. Historical reference height sets scale; this photo does not establish a measured height.
Photographs illustrate appearance. Listed heights control the scale. Shoes, bent knees and camera perspective can change how tall a player or historical figure looks; these photographs do not independently verify stature.