Unit converter
Inches to Centimeters Converter
Turn inches into centimetres in one step. By the 1959 international yard and pound agreement, an inch is fixed at exactly 2.54 centimetres, so multiplying any inch figure by 2.54 lands on an exact centimetre value with no estimation involved. Enter a measurement in inches and the tool returns the metric equivalent, alongside a lookup table for the figures searched most often. People reach for this when reading a US furniture spec against a metric tape, working out a television diagonal in centimetres, matching American clothing sizes to European charts, or following woodworking plans drawn up in inches.
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
Common inches to centimeters values
| Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm |
| 2 in | 5.08 cm |
| 5 in | 12.7 cm |
| 10 in | 25.4 cm |
| 20 in | 50.8 cm |
| 50 in | 127 cm |
| 100 in | 254 cm |
How to convert
- Start with the figure in inches you need converted.
- Multiply that figure by 2.54, since a single inch is exactly 2.54 centimetres.
- The product is the matching length in centimetres.
- Reverse the process by dividing centimetres by 2.54 to recover inches.
- For a quick guess in your head, multiply by 2.5 and nudge the answer up a touch: 12 inches sits near 30 cm.
centimetres = inches × 2.54
An inch equals 2.54 centimetres by definition, so scaling an inch value up by that factor produces the equivalent in centimetres. Dividing centimetres back down by 2.54 returns inches. Because the factor is fixed, the calculation is one constant multiplication.
- in
- the measurement in inches you begin with
- 2.54
- centimetres per inch, fixed by definition
Worked example
A 32 inch television diagonal comes to 32 multiplied by 2.54, which is 81.28 centimetres. A 36 inch waistband converts to 36 times 2.54, giving 91.44 cm, a figure many European size charts label as size 46.
Key facts
- One inch is exactly 2.54 cm; ten inches make 25.4 cm.
- A 6 inch ruler section spans 15.24 cm.
- US Letter paper is 8.5 inches wide, equal to 21.59 cm.
- A standard 4 inch by 6 inch photo prints at 10.16 cm by 15.24 cm.
Tips
- To convert a height like 5 ft 9 in, work the feet and the inches separately, then sum the centimetres.
- When a US site lists a single inch dimension, multiply by 2.54 before comparing it with metric stock you own.
- Hold off on rounding until the last step so repeated multiplications stay accurate.
Frequently asked questions
How many cm in 1 inch?+
Exactly 2.54 centimetres. The figure has been a defining constant since 1959, not a measured approximation.
How do I convert feet and inches to cm?+
Multiply the feet by 30.48, multiply the leftover inches by 2.54, then add the two results together.
Is 1 inch really exactly 2.54 cm?+
Yes. The international inch was defined as 2.54 cm precisely, replacing several slightly different national inches that existed beforehand.
How many cm is 12 inches?+
Twelve inches, one foot, equals 30.48 cm exactly.
Things to watch
- Rounding an inch reading to the nearest whole number can shift the result by more than a centimetre, which is enough to spoil a snug fit.
Sources
Last updated: 2026-01-01
Conversions use internationally defined factors. Provided for general use; verify critical measurements independently.