Centimeters to Inches Converter
There are 0.393701 inches in one centimeter. To convert centimeters to inches, multiply by 0.393701.
How to Convert Centimeters to Inches
To convert centimeters to inches, multiply by 0.393701. For an exact result, divide by 2.54 instead.
For example: 5 centimeters × 0.393701 = 1.9685 inches.
Where This Comes Up
Furniture from IKEA, clothing from overseas sellers and camera specs all arrive in centimeters. Turning them into inches is the only way to compare them against American sizing and against the room they have to fit in.
A 90-centimeter table height is 35.4331 inches, just under the 36 inches American counters are usually built to.
What People Get Wrong
Clothing size charts in centimeters are body measurements, not garment measurements. Converting 96 cm to 37.8 inches tells you the chest measurement the garment is cut for, not the width of the fabric.
Centimeters to Inches Conversion Table
| Centimeters (cm) | Inches (in) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.393701 |
| 2 | 0.787402 |
| 3 | 1.1811 |
| 4 | 1.5748 |
| 5 | 1.9685 |
| 6 | 2.3622 |
| 7 | 2.75591 |
| 8 | 3.14961 |
| 9 | 3.54331 |
| 10 | 3.93701 |
| 11 | 4.33071 |
| 12 | 4.72441 |
| 13 | 5.11811 |
| 14 | 5.51181 |
| 15 | 5.90551 |
| 16 | 6.29921 |
| 17 | 6.69291 |
| 18 | 7.08661 |
| 19 | 7.48031 |
| 20 | 7.87402 |
| 25 | 9.84252 |
| 30 | 11.811 |
| 40 | 15.748 |
| 50 | 19.685 |
| 75 | 29.5276 |
| 100 | 39.3701 |
| 250 | 98.4252 |
| 500 | 196.85 |
| 1,000 | 393.701 |
About These Units
The centimeter
A centimeter is one hundredth of a meter, or 10 millimeters. Most of the world lists body measurements, paper sizes and product dimensions in centimeters.
The inch
The inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters by international agreement. Americans use it for screen sizes, lumber, rainfall, tire rims and body height together with feet.
Definitions follow NIST Special Publication 811, Appendix B. See how we calculate for the exact values and rounding rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many inches is 100 cm?
100 centimeters is 39.3701 inches, which is 3 feet 3.4 inches.
What is 170 cm in feet and inches?
170 centimeters is 66.9291 inches, which works out to 5 feet 6.9 inches.
Is 2.5 cm close enough to an inch?
For a rough mental check, yes — it is within 1.6 percent. For anything that has to fit, use 2.54.
How do I convert centimeters to inches without a calculator?
Divide by 2.5 and then subtract about 1.5 percent. For 50 cm that gives 20 minus 0.3, or about 19.7 inches, against the exact 19.685.