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Convert centimeters to inches

Centimeter (cm) to inch (in). One centimeter equals 0.393701 inches.

1 cm =0.393701in (inches)

Formula

inches = centimeters ÷ 2.54

Centimeter to inch conversion table

CentimetersInchesInchesCentimeters
1 cm0.393701 in1 in2.54 cm
2 cm0.787402 in2 in5.08 cm
3 cm1.1811 in3 in7.62 cm
5 cm1.9685 in5 in12.7 cm
10 cm3.937 in10 in25.4 cm
20 cm7.874 in20 in50.8 cm
50 cm19.685 in50 in127 cm
100 cm39.3701 in100 in254 cm
500 cm196.85 in500 in1270 cm
1000 cm393.7 in1000 in2540 cm

Decimal centimeters to inches conversion table

The exact decimal amounts people look up most often, worked out with the same factor the converter above uses. Every row is calculated, not rounded off a chart.

CentimetersInches
0.5 cm0.19685 in
1 cm0.393701 in
2 cm0.787402 in
2.5 cm0.984252 in
3 cm1.1811 in
4 cm1.5748 in
5 cm1.9685 in
6 cm2.3622 in
7 cm2.7559 in
7.5 cm2.9528 in
8 cm3.1496 in
9 cm3.5433 in
10 cm3.937 in
11 cm4.3307 in
12 cm4.7244 in
13 cm5.1181 in
14 cm5.5118 in
15 cm5.9055 in
16 cm6.2992 in
17 cm6.6929 in
18 cm7.0866 in
19 cm7.4803 in
20 cm7.874 in
21 cm8.2677 in
22 cm8.6614 in
23 cm9.0551 in
24 cm9.4488 in
25 cm9.8425 in
26 cm10.2362 in
27 cm10.6299 in
28 cm11.0236 in
29 cm11.4173 in
30 cm11.811 in
35 cm13.7795 in
40 cm15.748 in
45 cm17.7165 in
50 cm19.685 in
55 cm21.6535 in
60 cm23.622 in
65 cm25.5906 in
70 cm27.5591 in
75 cm29.5276 in
80 cm31.4961 in
85 cm33.4646 in
90 cm35.4331 in
95 cm37.4016 in
100 cm39.3701 in
120 cm47.2441 in
150 cm59.0551 in
180 cm70.8661 in

Inches back to centimeters

The same conversion in reverse, for when you have the answer and need the question.

InchesCentimeters
1 in2.54 cm
2 in5.08 cm
3 in7.62 cm
4 in10.16 cm
5 in12.7 cm
6 in15.24 cm
10 in25.4 cm
12 in30.48 cm
24 in60.96 cm
36 in91.44 cm

Where the centimeter to inch factor comes from

  1. The inch is defined against the metric system, not the other way round: since the 1959 international yard and pound agreement, one inch is exactly 25.4 millimetres.
  2. 25.4 millimetres is 2.54 centimetres, so one inch is exactly 2.54 cm. That figure is a definition, so it carries no rounding error.
  3. Going from centimetres to inches divides by that constant: 1 ÷ 2.54 = 0.3937007874 inches per centimetre.
  4. inches = centimetres ÷ 2.54. So 5 cm is 1.9685 in, 20 cm is 7.874 in, and 100 cm (one metre) is 39.3701 in.

Sources

Common mistakes

Centimetres are not millimetres

A centimetre is ten millimetres, so 5 cm is 50 mm, not 5 mm. If your inch answer is ten times too big or too small, this is almost always why: 5 cm is 1.97 in, but 5 mm is only 0.197 in. Rulers marked in both make it easy to read the wrong scale.

2.5 is a shortcut, 2.54 is the definition

Rounding an inch to 2.5 cm is quick but drifts about 1.6 percent low. On a 30 cm ruler that is nearly 5 mm of error. For a rough kitchen measure 2.5 is fine; for anything cut to size, screen diagonals or print layout, use the exact 2.54.

To convert centimeters to inches, divide the number of centimeters by 2.54. One centimeter equals 0.393701 inches, and one inch equals 2.54 centimeters, so the relationship is fixed and exact. As a worked example, 10 cm comes to 3.937 in. Enter your own figure in the converter above to get an instant answer, or use the swap button to flip the direction. This is a length conversion, and like every tool on UnitGlide it runs locally in your browser with no account or upload required. The table further down shows a range of common centimeter values already worked out in inches, plus the reverse inch to centimeter direction, which is handy for quick reference or double-checking a result by hand.

Frequently asked questions

How many inches is 5 cm?

5 cm is 1.9685 inches, just under two inches. Divide centimetres by 2.54: 5 ÷ 2.54 = 1.9685.

How many inches is 20 cm?

20 cm is 7.874 inches. The same factor applies at every size, so 10 cm is 3.937 in and 30 cm is 11.811 in.

Is 2.54 cm exactly one inch?

Yes, exactly. The inch has been defined as exactly 25.4 mm (2.54 cm) since 1959, so the relationship is exact rather than a measured approximation.

How many inches are in a centimeter?

One centimeter equals 0.393701 inches. The ratio is constant, so you can multiply any number of centimeters by 0.393701 to get inches.

What is the formula to convert centimeters to inches?

Use inches = centimeters ÷ 2.54. UnitGlide applies this exact formula for every value, so results stay accurate across the whole range.

How do I convert inches back to centimeters?

Go the other way by using one inch equals 2.54 centimeters. You can also press the swap button in the converter above to flip the direction in one click.

Is this centimeter to inch converter accurate?

Yes. It uses internationally defined SI conversion factors, as maintained by the BIPM, and all math runs in your browser so nothing is rounded away on a server. For everyday use the displayed precision is more than enough.

Related conversions

Quick links

Inch to CentimeterLength converterAll measurement categories

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