This inches to cm converter changes inches into centimeters while you type, using the exact factor that defines the inch. It is the conversion behind screen sizes, paper formats, clothing measurements and furniture listings that arrive in one system when you think in the other. It runs in your browser and spends no credits.
How many centimeters are in an inch
There are exactly 2.54 centimeters in one inch. That is not a rounded figure: since 1959 the inch has been defined as 25.4 millimeters. One centimeter, in turn, is about 0.3937 inches.
Inches to cm formula
Multiply the inches by 2.54:
cm = in × 2.54
So 10 inches is 25.4 cm and 12 inches, one foot, is 30.48 cm. To estimate in your head, multiply by 2.5 and add a little: 20 in × 2.5 = 50, and the exact answer is 50.8 cm.
Inches to centimeters chart
| Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 0.5 in | 1.27 cm |
| 1 in | 2.54 cm |
| 2 in | 5.08 cm |
| 5 in | 12.7 cm |
| 6 in | 15.24 cm |
| 8.5 in | 21.59 cm |
| 10 in | 25.4 cm |
| 11 in | 27.94 cm |
| 12 in | 30.48 cm |
| 24 in | 60.96 cm |
| 27 in | 68.58 cm |
| 32 in | 81.28 cm |
| 36 in | 91.44 cm |
| 55 in | 139.7 cm |
| 65 in | 165.1 cm |
Worked example: screens and paper
Screen sizes are measured across the diagonal in inches. A 15.6-inch laptop screen is 15.6 × 2.54 = 39.624 cm corner to corner, and a 55-inch TV is 139.7 cm. US Letter paper is 8.5 by 11 inches, which comes to 21.59 by 27.94 cm, slightly wider and shorter than A4 (21 by 29.7 cm). That small gap is why a document set up for one size can shift when printed on the other.
Measuring the body in inches and cm
Tailors and size charts switch between the two all the time. A 32-inch waist is 81.28 cm and a 36-inch chest is 91.44 cm. Type the number from the tape measure into the Inches box and the centimeter figure is ready to paste into an order form.
FAQ
Is an inch exactly 2.54 cm?
Yes. It is the legal definition used in the US, the UK and everywhere else that uses inches.
How do I turn cm into inches?
Type in the Centimeters box or press swap. By hand, divide the centimeters by 2.54.
What does it cost?
It comes with the Nexin library: Nexin Lite or Nexin Pro opens it, and it spends no credits.
