How to convert centimeters to inches
Formula: in = cm ÷ 2.54
Worked example: 180 cm → 180 ÷ 2.54 = 70.8661 in
Inches are defined from centimeters, so this conversion is exact: divide by 2.54. A quick mental shortcut is to multiply by 4 and divide by 10, which gives a result about 1.6% too high. For a 30 cm ruler: 30 ÷ 2.54 = 11.81 in, just under a foot.
Centimeters to inches conversion chart
| Centimeters (cm) | Inches (in) |
|---|---|
| 1 cm | 0.393701 in |
| 2 cm | 0.787402 in |
| 3 cm | 1.1811 in |
| 4 cm | 1.5748 in |
| 5 cm | 1.9685 in |
| 6 cm | 2.3622 in |
| 7 cm | 2.75591 in |
| 8 cm | 3.14961 in |
| 9 cm | 3.54331 in |
| 10 cm | 3.93701 in |
| 12 cm | 4.72441 in |
| 15 cm | 5.90551 in |
| 20 cm | 7.87402 in |
| 25 cm | 9.84252 in |
| 30 cm | 11.811 in |
| 40 cm | 15.748 in |
| 50 cm | 19.685 in |
| 75 cm | 29.5276 in |
| 100 cm | 39.3701 in |
| 250 cm | 98.4252 in |
| 500 cm | 196.85 in |
| 1,000 cm | 393.701 in |
What is a centimeter?
The centimeter is one hundredth of a meter, about the width of a fingernail. Most of the world uses it for body height, clothing measurements and furniture sizes. An inch is exactly 2.54 cm, so a 6-foot person is about 183 cm tall.
What is an inch?
The inch has been exactly 2.54 centimeters since the 1959 international yard and pound agreement, and 12 inches make a foot. It is the US unit for screen diagonals, lumber, pipe and tire sizes, rainfall and most short lengths.