Meters to Decimeters
Type a value in either box to convert between meters and decimeters. The factor is 10.
| Meters | Decimeters |
|---|---|
| 1 m | 10 dm |
| 2 m | 20 dm |
| 3 m | 30 dm |
| 5 m | 50 dm |
| 10 m | 100 dm |
| 25 m | 250 dm |
| 50 m | 500 dm |
| 100 m | 1000 dm |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Meters field.
- The Decimeters figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Decimeters field converts back to Meters the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Meters to Decimeters formula
Converting meters to decimeters is a single multiplication by 10.
dm = m × 10
Put another way, one meter is exactly 10 decimeters.
Why this factor: the meter and the decimeter 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 Decimeters to Meters converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Start with 12 m. Multiply by 10 to get 120 dm.
12 m × 10 = 120 dm
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 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.
Meters vs Decimeters
The meter is an SI unit while the decimeter 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 decimeters are in a meter?
One meter equals 10 decimeters.
What is the formula to convert meters to decimeters?
Multiply the number of meters by 10. To reverse it, divide by 10 instead.
How do I convert decimeters back to meters?
Divide by 10, which is the same as multiplying by 0.1.
How many decimeters are in 10 meters?
10 m works out to 100 dm.
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 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.