Centimeters to Inches (cm to in)
1 cm = 0.393701 in
To convert centimeters to inches: inches = centimeters ÷ 2.54
| centimeters | inches |
|---|---|
| 1 cm | 0.3937 in |
| 2 cm | 0.7874 in |
| 3 cm | 1.181 in |
| 4 cm | 1.575 in |
| 5 cm | 1.969 in |
| 10 cm | 3.937 in |
| 15 cm | 5.906 in |
| 20 cm | 7.874 in |
| 25 cm | 9.843 in |
| 30 cm | 11.81 in |
| 40 cm | 15.75 in |
| 50 cm | 19.69 in |
| 60 cm | 23.62 in |
| 100 cm | 39.37 in |
An inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters, so converting centimeters to inches is a single division by 2.54. One centimeter is about 0.3937 inches — a little under four tenths of an inch.
Formula
inches = centimeters ÷ 2.54
Example: 10 centimeters = 3.93701 inches.
How to convert centimeters to inches in your head
- Multiply by 4 and divide by 10: 50 cm → 200 → 20 in (exact: 19.69). About 1.6% high.
- Divide by 2.5 for a closer figure: 90 cm ÷ 2.5 = 36 in (exact: 35.43).
- Anchors: 2.54 cm = 1 in, 30.48 cm = 1 ft, 100 cm = 39.37 in (a meter is about 3 in longer than a yard).
Centimeters to Inches chart
| centimeters | inches |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.393701 |
| 2 | 0.787402 |
| 5 | 1.9685 |
| 10 | 3.93701 |
| 15 | 5.90551 |
| 20 | 7.87402 |
| 25 | 9.84252 |
| 30 | 11.811 |
| 40 | 15.748 |
| 50 | 19.685 |
| 60 | 23.622 |
| 75 | 29.5276 |
| 100 | 39.3701 |
| 150 | 59.0551 |
| 180 | 70.8661 |
Centimeters to inches for clothing, screens and heights
| What | centimeters | inches | Feet & inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width of a fingertip (about) | 1 | 0.393701 | 0 ft 0.4 in |
| 2.5 | 0.984252 | 0 ft 1 in | |
| 5 | 1.9685 | 0 ft 2 in | |
| 10 | 3.93701 | 0 ft 3.9 in | |
| 20 | 7.87402 | 0 ft 7.9 in | |
| A4 paper width (21 cm) | 21 | 8.26772 | 0 ft 8.3 in |
| A4 paper height (29.7 cm) | 29.7 | 11.6929 | 0 ft 11.7 in |
| 30 | 11.811 | 0 ft 11.8 in | |
| 45 | 17.7165 | 1 ft 5.7 in | |
| 50 | 19.685 | 1 ft 7.7 in | |
| 60 | 23.622 | 1 ft 11.6 in | |
| 90 | 35.4331 | 2 ft 11.4 in | |
| 1 meter | 100 | 39.3701 | 3 ft 3.4 in |
| 150 | 59.0551 | 4 ft 11.1 in | |
| 160 | 62.9921 | 5 ft 3 in | |
| 170 | 66.9291 | 5 ft 6.9 in | |
| 180 | 70.8661 | 5 ft 10.9 in | |
| 200 | 78.7402 | 6 ft 6.7 in |
Good to know
You meet this conversion most often with clothing and body measurements from metric size charts, screen and paper sizes, and product dimensions on international listings. For a quick mental estimate, multiply by 4 and divide by 10: 30 cm × 4 = 120, ÷ 10 = 12 inches (the exact answer is 11.81).
Tape measures in the US often show inches as fractions. 0.39 inches is roughly 3/8 inch, 0.5 inch is 1/2, 0.75 inch is 3/4. Our fraction converter turns any decimal into the nearest sixteenth.
Need a different unit? The unit converter on the home page handles length, weight, volume, temperature and more.
Common centimeters to inches mistakes
- Multiplying by 2.54 instead of dividing. Centimeters to inches makes the number smaller: 30 cm is 11.81 in, not 76.2 in.
- Writing 5.9 ft as 5 ft 9 in. 180 cm is 70.87 in, which is 5 ft 10.9 in, or 5.91 ft as a decimal.
- Converting screen sizes as width. A 55-inch TV is 139.7 cm on the diagonal, not across.
- Using 2.5 for long lengths. 200 cm ÷ 2.5 = 80 in, but the exact answer is 78.74 in. The inch is exactly 2.54 cm (NIST, 1959 agreement).
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How many inches is 1 cm?
1 centimeter is 0.393701 inches (1 ÷ 2.54).
How many inches is 30 cm?
30 cm is 11.811 inches — just under a foot.
Is 2.54 exact?
Yes. Since 1959 the international inch has been defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters, which is 2.54 centimeters.
How many inches is 10 cm?
10 cm is 3.937 inches.
How many inches is 20 cm?
20 cm is 7.874 inches.
How many inches is 50 cm?
50 cm is 19.685 inches.
How many inches is 100 cm?
100 cm (one meter) is 39.37 inches.
How tall is 170 cm in feet and inches?
170 cm is 66.93 inches, which is 5 ft 6.9 in.
How tall is 150 cm in feet and inches?
150 cm is 59.06 inches, which is 4 ft 11.1 in.
How many inches is 5 cm?
5 cm is 1.969 inches, just under 2 inches.