Meters to Centimeters
An instant meters-to-centimeters converter, with the formula and a reference table below.
| Meters | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 1 m | 100 cm |
| 2 m | 200 cm |
| 3 m | 300 cm |
| 5 m | 500 cm |
| 10 m | 1000 cm |
| 25 m | 2500 cm |
| 50 m | 5000 cm |
| 100 m | 10000 cm |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Meters field.
- The Centimeters figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Centimeters field converts back to Meters the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Meters to Centimeters formula
The factor from meters to centimeters is 100.
cm = m × 100
Put another way, one meter is exactly 100 centimeters.
Why this factor: the meter and the centimeter are both defined against the meter, so dividing one definition by the other gives 100 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 100 — or use the Centimeters to Meters converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Given 5 m, multiplying by 100 yields 500 cm.
5 m × 100 = 500 cm
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a meter?
The meter is the SI base unit of length — the reference every other length unit is now defined against.
Definition: Since 1983 the meter has been defined by fixing the speed of light in vacuum at exactly 299,792,458 meters per second, so a meter is the distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 of a second.
Where it is used: Universal in science, engineering and everyday measurement everywhere except the United States.
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.
Meters vs Centimeters
The meter is an SI 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 a meter?
One meter equals 100 centimeters.
What is the formula to convert meters to centimeters?
Multiply the number of meters by 100. To reverse it, divide by 100 instead.
How do I convert centimeters back to meters?
Divide by 100, which is the same as multiplying by 0.01.
How many centimeters are in 10 meters?
10 m works out to 1000 cm.
How is the meter defined?
Since 1983 the meter has been defined by fixing the speed of light in vacuum at exactly 299,792,458 meters per second, so a meter is the distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 of a second.