Inches to Centimeters Converter
Converting inches to centimeters is the single most common length conversion online — bridging the imperial measurements still used in the US with the metric units used almost everywhere else. Whether you are sizing a TV, ordering clothes abroad, or reading an American product spec, the inch-to-centimeter conversion is the bridge you need.
Looking for the reverse? Centimeters to Inches converter →
How to Convert Inches to Centimeters
To convert inches to centimeters, multiply the number of inches by 2.54. This factor is exact: by international agreement since 1959, 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly.
Worked Examples
- 1 inch = 1 × 2.54 = 2.54 cm
- 5 inches = 5 × 2.54 = 12.7 cm
- 12 inches (1 foot) = 12 × 2.54 = 30.48 cm
- 36 inches (1 yard) = 36 × 2.54 = 91.44 cm
Why Convert Inches to Centimeters?
- Comparing US TV and monitor sizes (advertised in inches) to the physical space they will occupy on a metric desk or wall
- Translating US clothing measurements (chest, waist, inseam) to metric size charts when shopping internationally
- Converting standard US paper sizes (Letter, Legal, Tabloid) to centimeters for print shops outside North America
- Reading furniture or appliance dimensions from US manufacturers when planning a metric kitchen or living room
- Converting smartphone, laptop, or tablet screen diagonals between marketing material and physical fit
Inches to Centimeters Conversion Table
| Inches (in) | Centimeters (cm) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 in | 0.0254 cm |
| 0.1 in | 0.254 cm |
| 0.25 in | 0.635 cm |
| 0.5 in | 1.27 cm |
| 0.75 in | 1.905 cm |
| 1 in | 2.54 cm |
| 1.5 in | 3.81 cm |
| 2 in | 5.08 cm |
| 2.5 in | 6.35 cm |
| 3 in | 7.62 cm |
| 4 in | 10.16 cm |
| 5 in | 12.7 cm |
| 6 in | 15.24 cm |
| 7 in | 17.78 cm |
| 8 in | 20.32 cm |
| 9 in | 22.86 cm |
| 10 in | 25.4 cm |
| 11 in | 27.94 cm |
| 12 in | 30.48 cm |
| 13 in | 33.02 cm |
| 14 in | 35.56 cm |
| 15 in | 38.1 cm |
| 16 in | 40.64 cm |
| 17 in | 43.18 cm |
| 18 in | 45.72 cm |
| 19 in | 48.26 cm |
| 20 in | 50.8 cm |
| 24 in | 60.96 cm |
| 30 in | 76.2 cm |
| 36 in | 91.44 cm |
| 48 in | 121.92 cm |
| 60 in | 152.4 cm |
| 72 in | 182.88 cm |
| 84 in | 213.36 cm |
| 96 in | 243.84 cm |
| 100 in | 254 cm |
| 120 in | 304.8 cm |
| 144 in | 365.76 cm |
| 200 in | 508 cm |
| 300 in | 762 cm |
| 500 in | 1270 cm |
| 1000 in | 2540 cm |
Quick Reference: Inches to Centimeters
The most-searched conversion values for this pair, summarised for quick lookup:
| Inch | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm |
| 2 in | 5.08 cm |
| 5 in | 12.7 cm |
| 10 in | 25.4 cm |
| 25 in | 63.5 cm |
| 50 in | 127 cm |
| 100 in | 254 cm |
Real-World Size Guide
Here are common everyday objects sized in inches, with the centimeter equivalent — useful for visualizing how big a given inch measurement actually is when shopping, packing, or planning.
| Object | Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| US dollar bill (length) | 6.14 in | 15.6 cm |
| Standard credit card (length) | 3.37 in | 8.56 cm |
| iPhone 15 (height) | 5.81 in | 14.76 cm |
| US Letter paper (width) | 8.5 in | 21.59 cm |
| US Letter paper (height) | 11 in | 27.94 cm |
| Standard bowling pin (height) | 15 in | 38.1 cm |
| Men's US size 10 shoe (length) | 11 in | 27.94 cm |
| 32-inch TV (diagonal) | 32 in | 81.28 cm |
| 55-inch TV (diagonal) | 55 in | 139.7 cm |
| Standard interior door (height) | 80 in | 203.2 cm |
What Is an Inch?
An inch is a unit of length equal to exactly 25.4 millimeters, defined in 1959 as part of the international yard and pound agreement.
The inch traces back to early English measurement, originally tied to the width of a human thumb or three barleycorns laid end-to-end. After centuries of regional variation, the international inch was standardized in 1959 by an agreement among English-speaking countries to exactly 25.4 millimeters, replacing the slightly different US survey inch for most purposes.
In everyday use: Inches are the standard unit for screen sizes (a 15-inch laptop), TV diagonals, paper formats in the US, plumbing pipe diameters, and clothing dimensions like waistlines and shoe insoles. They remain dominant in US construction, woodworking, and any industry that grew around imperial drawings.
The inch symbol is " or in.
What Is a Centimeter?
A centimeter is a metric unit of length equal to one hundredth (1/100) of a meter, widely used for everyday measurements worldwide.
The centimeter was introduced with the metric system after the French Revolution as part of a decimal-based effort to unify trade and science. Although not an SI base unit (the meter is), the centimeter became the practical workhorse for human-scale measurements once the metric system spread across Europe, Asia, and Latin America during the 19th and 20th centuries.
In everyday use: Centimeters are the default unit for measuring body dimensions (height, waist, chest), clothing sizes in most of the world, school stationery, and the height of children at pediatric checkups. Rulers in the metric world are usually graduated in centimeters with millimeter subdivisions.
The centimeter symbol is cm.
Precision and Accuracy
The factor 2.54 cm per inch is exact by international agreement (1959). Any rounding in the result comes from how many decimal places you display, not from the conversion itself.
For most everyday purposes — fitting a TV on a wall, choosing a shoe size, picking a paper size — two decimal places are plenty. Engineering, machining, and scientific work may carry more digits, but the conversion factor itself never introduces an error.
Common Inch to CM Conversions
References
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — SI Units: Length
- International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) — The International System of Units (SI)