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Inches to centimeters

1 inch = 2.54 centimeters

Type a value in inches (in) to get centimeters (cm) straight away. An inch is larger than a centimeter, so the number goes up. Both units belong to length, measured here against the meter.

1 in = 2.54 cm

Formula

cm = in × 2.54

One inch is 2.54 centimeters, so multiply the inch value by that factor. Here in is the value in inches and cm is the result in centimeters.

Worked example: 12 inches × 2.54 = 30.48 centimeters.

Inches to centimeters table

inches (in)centimeters (cm)
1 in2.54 cm
2 in5.08 cm
3 in7.62 cm
4 in10.16 cm
5 in12.7 cm
6 in15.24 cm
7 in17.78 cm
8 in20.32 cm
9 in22.86 cm
10 in25.4 cm
15 in38.1 cm
20 in50.8 cm
25 in63.5 cm
30 in76.2 cm
40 in101.6 cm
50 in127 cm
60 in152.4 cm
75 in190.5 cm
100 in254 cm

Everyday inches in centimeters

What it isincm
a thumb width (about)1 in2.54 cm
a common phone screen diagonal6.1 in15.494 cm
a common laptop screen15.6 in39.624 cm
a 32-inch waist32 in81.28 cm
a 55-inch TV diagonal55 in139.7 cm

Quick estimate in your head

Multiply by about 2.5. For 12 in that gives 30 cm against an exact 30.48 cm, an error of 1.6%.

About the units

Inch (in). Exactly 2.54 cm since the 1959 international yard agreement. Common for screens, tyres and pipes.

Centimeter (cm). One hundredth of a meter. The usual metric unit for height, clothing and small objects.

Going the other way, 1 centimeter is 0.393701 inches.

Questions

How many centimeters are in 1 inch?

1 inch is 2.54 centimeters, and 1 centimeter is 0.393701 inches.

How do I convert inches to centimeters?

Use cm = in × 2.54. For example, 12 inches × 2.54 = 30.48 centimeters.

Is the inch to centimeter factor exact?

The factor comes from the unit definitions. Results here are rounded to 6 significant digits for display.

How much is a 55-inch TV diagonal in centimeters?

55 in is 139.7 cm.

Source for the conversion factor: NIST SP 811, Appendix B (conversion factors).

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