Inches to Centimeters
Type a value in either box to convert between inches and centimeters. The factor is 2.54.
| Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm |
| 2 in | 5.08 cm |
| 3 in | 7.62 cm |
| 5 in | 12.7 cm |
| 10 in | 25.4 cm |
| 25 in | 63.5 cm |
| 50 in | 127 cm |
| 100 in | 254 cm |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Inches field.
- The Centimeters figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Centimeters field converts back to Inches the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Inches to Centimeters formula
Converting inches to centimeters is a single multiplication by 2.54.
cm = in × 2.54
Put another way, one inch is exactly 127/50 centimeters.
Why this factor: the inch and the centimeter are both defined against the meter, so dividing one definition by the other gives 2.54 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 2.54 — or use the Centimeters to Inches converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Start with 12 in. Multiply by 2.54 to get 30.48 cm.
12 in × 2.54 = 30.48 cm
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
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.
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.
Inches vs Centimeters
The inch is an imperial unit while the centimeter is a metric 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 centimeters are in an inch?
One inch equals 2.54 centimeters.
What is the formula to convert inches to centimeters?
Multiply the number of inches by 2.54. To reverse it, divide by 2.54 instead.
How do I convert centimeters back to inches?
Divide by 2.54, which is the same as multiplying by 0.393700787.
How many centimeters are in 10 inches?
10 in works out to 25.4 cm.
How is the inch defined?
Exactly 25.4 millimeters since the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement — an exact, not approximate, relation.