cm to Inches Converter
Convert between centimetres and inches in either direction, with feet and inches and the nearest 1/16-inch tape-measure mark.
About this tool
Uses the exact definition 1 inch = 2.54 cm. The fraction is rounded to the nearest sixteenth of an inch, as marked on most imperial tape measures.
Rulers, clothing sizes, screens and furniture are measured in centimetres in most countries but often in inches in product listings and imperial tape measures. Type centimetres to see inches, feet and inches and the nearest 1/16-inch mark, or type inches to get centimetres. Both boxes update as you type.
How to use the cm to Inches Converter
- Type a length in centimetres, for example 30.
- Read the inches, the feet and inches and the nearest tape-measure fraction.
- Or type inches instead, and the centimetres update.
- Use the fraction to find the mark on an imperial ruler or tape.
Converting 30 cm and 12 inches
30 ÷ 2.54 = 11.811 inches, which is closest to 11 13/16 in on a tape measure, or 0 ft 11.8 in. A school ruler of 12 inches is 12 × 2.54 = 30.48 cm, a little longer than 30 cm. A 100 cm (1 m) length is 39.37 inches.
cm to inches table
Converted with this tool and rounded to three decimal places.
| Centimetres | Inches | Nearest 1/16 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | 0.394 in | 3/8 |
| 5 cm | 1.969 in | 1 15/16 |
| 10 cm | 3.937 in | 3 15/16 |
| 15 cm | 5.906 in | 5 7/8 |
| 20 cm | 7.874 in | 7 7/8 |
| 25 cm | 9.843 in | 9 13/16 |
| 30 cm | 11.811 in | 11 13/16 |
| 50 cm | 19.685 in | 19 11/16 |
| 60 cm | 23.622 in | 23 5/8 |
| 100 cm | 39.37 in | 39 3/8 |
| 150 cm | 59.055 in | 59 1/16 |
The exact inch
Since 1959 the international inch has been exactly 2.54 cm. Divide centimetres by 2.54 to get inches, or multiply inches by 2.54 to get centimetres. There are 12 inches in a foot, so 30.48 cm is exactly 1 foot. Imperial tape measures mark halves, quarters, eighths and sixteenths of an inch; one sixteenth is about 0.16 cm.
Common mistakes
- Multiplying when you should divide. Centimetres to inches is ÷ 2.54; inches to centimetres is × 2.54.
- Using 2.5 as a shortcut. 100 ÷ 2.5 = 40 in, but the real answer is 39.37 in; the error grows with length.
- Writing feet and inches as a decimal. 5.6 ft is 5 ft 7.2 in, not 5 ft 6 in.
Frequently asked questions
How many inches is 1 cm?
0.394 inches, a little more than 3/8 inch.
How many cm is an inch?
Exactly 2.54 cm.
How many cm is 12 inches?
30.48 cm, which is one foot.
How do I convert my height?
Use this tool for centimetres to feet and inches, or the height converter, which also accepts feet and inches as separate boxes.