Decimeters to Centimeters
Type a value in either box to convert between decimeters and centimeters. The factor is 10.
| Decimeters | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 1 dm | 10 cm |
| 2 dm | 20 cm |
| 3 dm | 30 cm |
| 5 dm | 50 cm |
| 10 dm | 100 cm |
| 25 dm | 250 cm |
| 50 dm | 500 cm |
| 100 dm | 1000 cm |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Decimeters field.
- The Centimeters figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Centimeters field converts back to Decimeters the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Decimeters to Centimeters formula
To convert decimeters to centimeters, multiply by 10.
cm = dm × 10
Put another way, one decimeter is exactly 10 centimeters.
Why this factor: the decimeter and the centimeter are both defined against the meter, so dividing one definition by the other gives 10 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 10 — or use the Centimeters to Decimeters converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Given 12 dm, multiplying by 10 yields 120 cm.
12 dm × 10 = 120 cm
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a decimeter?
A decimeter is one tenth of a meter — 10 centimeters.
Definition: Exactly 0.1 meter by SI prefix definition.
Where it is used: Rare in everyday speech, but it matters because a cubic decimeter is exactly one liter.
Worth knowing: The decimeter's real importance is volumetric: 1 dm³ = 1 L exactly, which is where the liter comes from.
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.
Decimeters vs Centimeters
The decimeter and the centimeter belong to the same family of units, so converting between them is usually a matter of shifting a decimal point or applying a small whole-number factor.
Frequently asked questions
How many centimeters are in a decimeter?
One decimeter equals 10 centimeters.
What is the formula to convert decimeters to centimeters?
Multiply the number of decimeters by 10. To reverse it, divide by 10 instead.
How do I convert centimeters back to decimeters?
Divide by 10, which is the same as multiplying by 0.1.
How many centimeters are in 10 decimeters?
10 dm works out to 100 cm.
Is there anything to watch out for with decimeters?
The decimeter's real importance is volumetric: 1 dm³ = 1 L exactly, which is where the liter comes from.
How is the decimeter defined?
Exactly 0.1 meter by SI prefix definition.