Convert Centimeter to Inch.
Input the value of centimeters below to convert instantly to inches with standard conversions, definitions, and equations.
About converting centimeters to inches
Converting centimeters to inches is the everyday bridge between the metric world and the US/UK customary system — it comes up whenever a metric measurement has to fit an inch-based form, screen size, or paper size.
An inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters, a value fixed by international agreement in 1959. Because the relationship is exact rather than approximate, centimeter-to-inch conversions are never rounded at the definition level — any rounding you see is only for display. To go from centimeters to inches you divide by 2.54, so 10 cm is 10 ÷ 2.54 = 3.937 inches.
This conversion shows up constantly in clothing and body measurements, where a waist or chest size given in centimeters on a European size chart needs to be read against US inch sizing. It also matters for screens and print: a 15.6 cm width, a 5×7 photo, or an A4 sheet (21 × 29.7 cm) all involve moving between the two systems.
- A quick mental shortcut: divide centimeters by 2.5 for a rough inch figure, then nudge slightly down (since the real divisor is 2.54).
- For height, remember 2.54 cm ≈ 1 inch and 30.48 cm ≈ 1 foot — so 170 cm is about 5 feet 7 inches.
How to Convert Centimeters to Inches
To convert centimeter to inch, we use the official conversion formulas. Below is the mathematical formula, plain-English explanation, and a worked example.
Centimeter (cm)
One-hundredth of a meter. Used worldwide for general height and object measurements.
Inch (in)
Imperial and US customary unit equal to exactly 2.54 centimeters.
Centimeter to Inch Conversion Table
| Centimeter (cm) | Inch (in) |
|---|---|
| 1 cm | 0.3937 in |
| 2 cm | 0.7874 in |
| 3 cm | 1.1811 in |
| 5 cm | 1.9685 in |
| 10 cm | 3.93701 in |
| 15 cm | 5.90551 in |
| 20 cm | 7.87402 in |
| 25 cm | 9.84252 in |
| 50 cm | 19.68504 in |
| 100 cm | 39.37008 in |
| 250 cm | 98.4252 in |
| 500 cm | 196.85039 in |
| 1000 cm | 393.70079 in |
Inch to Centimeter Conversion Table
| Inch (in) | Centimeter (cm) |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm |
| 2 in | 5.08 cm |
| 3 in | 7.62 cm |
| 5 in | 12.7 cm |
| 10 in | 25.4 cm |
| 15 in | 38.1 cm |
| 20 in | 50.8 cm |
| 25 in | 63.5 cm |
| 50 in | 127 cm |
| 100 in | 254 cm |
| 250 in | 635 cm |
| 500 in | 1270 cm |
| 1000 in | 2540 cm |