Centimeters to Inches
An instant centimeters-to-inches converter, with the formula and a reference table below.
| Centimeters | Inches |
|---|---|
| 1 cm | 0.393701 in |
| 2 cm | 0.787402 in |
| 3 cm | 1.181102 in |
| 5 cm | 1.968504 in |
| 10 cm | 3.937008 in |
| 25 cm | 9.84252 in |
| 50 cm | 19.685039 in |
| 100 cm | 39.370079 in |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Centimeters field.
- The Inches figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Inches field converts back to Centimeters the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Centimeters to Inches formula
Converting centimeters to inches is a single multiplication by 0.393700787.
in = cm × 0.393700787
Put another way, one centimeter is exactly 50/127 inches.
Why this factor: the centimeter and the inch are both defined against the meter, so dividing one definition by the other gives 0.393700787 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 0.393700787 — or use the Inches to Centimeters converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Take 5 cm and multiply by the factor 0.393700787: the result is 1.968504 in.
5 cm × 0.393700787 = 1.968504 in
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a centimeter?
A centimeter is one hundredth of a meter, the everyday metric unit for body and object measurements.
Definition: Exactly 0.01 meter by SI prefix definition.
Where it is used: Height, clothing sizes, rainfall, paper and screen dimensions across the metric world.
What is an inch?
An inch is one twelfth of a foot, used for small dimensions and for screen and wheel sizes globally.
Definition: Exactly 25.4 millimeters since the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement — an exact, not approximate, relation.
Where it is used: Screen diagonals, pipe and fastener sizes, tire and wheel diameters, and print layout worldwide.
Centimeters vs Inches
The centimeter is a metric unit while the inch is an imperial unit. That is why the factor between them is not a round number: the two systems were defined independently and only later tied together by exact agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How many inches are in a centimeter?
One centimeter equals 0.393700787 inches.
What is the formula to convert centimeters to inches?
Multiply the number of centimeters by 0.393700787. To reverse it, divide by 0.393700787 instead.
How do I convert inches back to centimeters?
Divide by 0.393700787, which is the same as multiplying by 2.54.
How many inches are in 10 centimeters?
10 cm works out to 3.937008 in.
How is the centimeter defined?
Exactly 0.01 meter by SI prefix definition.