How to convert inches to centimeters
Formula: cm = in × 2.54
Worked example: 12 in → 12 × 2.54 = 30.48 cm
Multiply inches by 2.54 and you have centimeters, with no rounding at all, because the inch is defined as exactly 2.54 cm. This is handy for screen sizes: a 65-inch TV has a diagonal of 165.1 cm.
Inches to centimeters conversion chart
| Inches (in) | Centimeters (cm) |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm |
| 2 in | 5.08 cm |
| 3 in | 7.62 cm |
| 4 in | 10.16 cm |
| 5 in | 12.7 cm |
| 6 in | 15.24 cm |
| 7 in | 17.78 cm |
| 8 in | 20.32 cm |
| 9 in | 22.86 cm |
| 10 in | 25.4 cm |
| 12 in | 30.48 cm |
| 15 in | 38.1 cm |
| 20 in | 50.8 cm |
| 25 in | 63.5 cm |
| 30 in | 76.2 cm |
| 40 in | 101.6 cm |
| 50 in | 127 cm |
| 75 in | 190.5 cm |
| 100 in | 254 cm |
| 250 in | 635 cm |
| 500 in | 1,270 cm |
| 1,000 in | 2,540 cm |
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.
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.