Quick answer: multiply inches by 2.54 to get centimeters. 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly, so 10 in = 25.4 cm and 12 in (1 ft) = 30.48 cm.
Inches to cm Formula
cm = inches × 2.54
Since 1959 the inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters, so the conversion is exact, not an approximation. Example: a 32 inch waist is 32 × 2.54 = 81.28 cm.
Inches to cm Conversion Chart
| Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 11 in | 27.94 cm |
| 12 in | 30.48 cm |
| 13 in | 33.02 cm |
| 14 in | 35.56 cm |
| 15 in | 38.1 cm |
| 16 in | 40.64 cm |
| 17 in | 43.18 cm |
| 18 in | 45.72 cm |
| 19 in | 48.26 cm |
| 20 in | 50.8 cm |
| Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 21 in | 53.34 cm |
| 22 in | 55.88 cm |
| 23 in | 58.42 cm |
| 24 in | 60.96 cm |
| 25 in | 63.5 cm |
| 26 in | 66.04 cm |
| 27 in | 68.58 cm |
| 28 in | 71.12 cm |
| 29 in | 73.66 cm |
| 30 in | 76.2 cm |
| 31 in | 78.74 cm |
| 32 in | 81.28 cm |
| 33 in | 83.82 cm |
| 34 in | 86.36 cm |
| 35 in | 88.9 cm |
| 36 in | 91.44 cm |
| 37 in | 93.98 cm |
| 38 in | 96.52 cm |
| 39 in | 99.06 cm |
| 40 in | 101.6 cm |
| Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 41 in | 104.14 cm |
| 42 in | 106.68 cm |
| 43 in | 109.22 cm |
| 44 in | 111.76 cm |
| 45 in | 114.3 cm |
| 46 in | 116.84 cm |
| 47 in | 119.38 cm |
| 48 in | 121.92 cm |
| 49 in | 124.46 cm |
| 50 in | 127 cm |
| 51 in | 129.54 cm |
| 52 in | 132.08 cm |
| 53 in | 134.62 cm |
| 54 in | 137.16 cm |
| 55 in | 139.7 cm |
| 56 in | 142.24 cm |
| 57 in | 144.78 cm |
| 58 in | 147.32 cm |
| 59 in | 149.86 cm |
| 60 in | 152.4 cm |
Fractions of an Inch in cm
| Fraction | Decimal | cm |
|---|---|---|
| 1/16 | 0.0625 in | 0.159 cm |
| 1/8 | 0.125 in | 0.318 cm |
| 3/16 | 0.1875 in | 0.476 cm |
| 1/4 | 0.25 in | 0.635 cm |
| 5/16 | 0.3125 in | 0.794 cm |
| 3/8 | 0.375 in | 0.953 cm |
| 1/2 | 0.5 in | 1.27 cm |
| 5/8 | 0.625 in | 1.587 cm |
| 3/4 | 0.75 in | 1.905 cm |
| 7/8 | 0.875 in | 2.223 cm |
Rulers and tape measures usually mark sixteenths of an inch; each sixteenth is about 1.6 mm.
Larger Lengths: Waist, Height and More
| Inches | cm | Feet and inches |
|---|---|---|
| 24 in | 61 cm | 2 ft 0 in |
| 28 in | 71.1 cm | 2 ft 4 in |
| 30 in | 76.2 cm | 2 ft 6 in |
| 32 in | 81.3 cm | 2 ft 8 in |
| 34 in | 86.4 cm | 2 ft 10 in |
| 36 in | 91.4 cm | 3 ft 0 in |
| 40 in | 101.6 cm | 3 ft 4 in |
| 48 in | 121.9 cm | 4 ft 0 in |
| 50 in | 127 cm | 4 ft 2 in |
| 55 in | 139.7 cm | 4 ft 7 in |
| 60 in | 152.4 cm | 5 ft 0 in |
| 65 in | 165.1 cm | 5 ft 5 in |
| 70 in | 177.8 cm | 5 ft 10 in |
| 72 in | 182.9 cm | 6 ft 0 in |
| 75 in | 190.5 cm | 6 ft 3 in |
| 80 in | 203.2 cm | 6 ft 8 in |
| 100 in | 254 cm | 8 ft 4 in |
Measuring your body? See how to take body measurements and the average waist size for men.
Converting cm Back to Inches
Divide centimeters by 2.54, or multiply by 0.3937. For example, 100 cm ÷ 2.54 = 39.37 in. For heights in centimeters, the cm to feet and inches converter gives feet and inches directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cm is 1 inch?
1 inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters, or 25.4 millimeters.
How do you convert inches to cm?
Multiply the number of inches by 2.54. For example, 5 inches × 2.54 = 12.7 cm.
How many cm is 12 inches?
12 inches (1 foot) is 30.48 cm.
How many inches is 1 cm?
1 centimeter is about 0.3937 inches, a little under 2/5 of an inch.
Why is an inch exactly 2.54 cm?
In 1959 the United States, United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries agreed to define the inch as exactly 2.54 cm so that measurements would match worldwide.
How many cm is a quarter inch?
A quarter inch is 0.635 cm (6.35 mm).
Sources
- National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement.
- International Yard and Pound Agreement, 1959 (defines 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly).
Conversions use the exact definition 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Results are rounded for display.