Length
CM to Inches Converter
Convert centimeters to inches instantly with a live converter and a quick-reference chart. 1 inch is exactly 2.54 cm.
1 Centimeters
0.39370
Inches
1 cm = 0.39370 in
0.39370
How to convert centimeters to inches
One inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters. To convert centimeters to inches, divide by 2.54. To go the other way — inches to centimeters — multiply by 2.54. The formula is: inches = cm ÷ 2.54.
This relationship is exact, not approximate. The international inch was standardized to 2.54 cm in 1959 by agreement between the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa — so no rounding is involved in the definition itself.
Centimeters to inches chart
| Centimeters | Inches | Approx. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | 0.394 in | ≈ 3⁄8" |
| 2 cm | 0.787 in | ≈ 3⁄4" |
| 2.54 cm | 1.000 in | = 1" |
| 5 cm | 1.969 in | ≈ 2" |
| 10 cm | 3.937 in | ≈ 4" |
| 15 cm | 5.906 in | ≈ 5 7⁄8" |
| 20 cm | 7.874 in | ≈ 7 7⁄8" |
| 25 cm | 9.843 in | ≈ 9 13⁄16" |
| 30 cm | 11.811 in | ≈ 11 13⁄16" |
| 50 cm | 19.685 in | ≈ 19 11⁄16" |
| 100 cm | 39.370 in | = 39.37" |
Frequently asked questions
- How many inches is 5 cm?
- 5 cm equals 1.9685 inches (5 ÷ 2.54).
- How many inches is 10 cm?
- 10 cm equals 3.937 inches — just under 4 inches.
- Is 1 cm the same as 1 inch?
- No. One inch is 2.54 times longer than one centimeter. 1 cm is about 0.394 inches.
- Why is 1 inch exactly 2.54 cm?
- The international inch was fixed at exactly 2.54 cm by a 1959 agreement among English-speaking countries, replacing slightly differing national definitions.