About the Inches to CM
This inches to CM converter turns inches into centimeters using the exact definition 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Enter whole inches and, if you are reading a tape measure, pick the extra fraction (1/16 to 15/16) so you do not have to convert 5 3/8″ to a decimal yourself. You also get the length in millimeters, meters and feet.
It is useful for sewing and clothing sizes, screen diagonals, woodworking and DIY plans, luggage limits, or any time a US measurement needs to go into a metric form. The chart covers common lengths from 1 inch to 36 inches (a yard).
Because the factor is exact, results are only rounded for display. Negative values are treated as zero, since a length cannot be negative.
With the default inputs, the centimeters is 30.48 cm. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the inches to cm
- 1Enter the number of inches (decimals are fine).
- 2Optionally pick a fraction such as 3/8″ to add to it.
- 3Read the answer in centimeters, with millimeters, meters and feet below.
- 4Use the chart for other everyday sizes.
Formula and method
One international inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters (25.4 millimeters), so multiplying inches by 2.54 converts to centimeters with no approximation. Any fraction you select is added to the whole inches first (for example 5 + 3/8 = 5.375 in).
Millimeters are centimeters × 10, meters are centimeters ÷ 100, and feet are inches ÷ 12.
- inches
- Whole inches plus any selected fraction
- 2.54
- Centimeters per inch (exact)
Worked examples
One foot (12 inches)
12 × 2.54 = 30.48 cm. That is why a foot is exactly 30.48 centimeters, or 0.3048 meters.
65-inch TV diagonal
65 × 2.54 = 165.1 cm. TV sizes are measured diagonally, so metric listings describe a 65″ TV as roughly 164–165 cm (some round down using the visible screen area).
5 3/8 inches on a tape measure
5 3/8″ is 5.375 inches. 5.375 × 2.54 = 13.65 cm, or about 136.5 mm.
Frequently asked questions
How many cm is 1 inch?+
One inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters, or 25.4 millimeters. This value has been the international standard since 1959.
How do I convert inches to centimeters?+
Multiply the number of inches by 2.54. For example, 10 inches × 2.54 = 25.4 cm. To go back, divide centimeters by 2.54.
How many cm is 6 inches?+
Six inches is 15.24 cm. A standard 6-inch ruler is therefore just over 15 centimeters long.
What is 32 inches in cm for jeans?+
A 32-inch waist or inseam is 81.28 cm. Jeans sized in inches usually list waist first and inseam second, for example 32×32.