How to convert inches to centimeters
1 in = 2.54 cm (exact)
centimeters = inches × 2.54
Shortcut: Multiply by 2.5 and add a little: 10 in ≈ 25 cm, plus 0.4 cm for the exact 25.4 cm.
Inches to cm table
| Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 0.25 in | 0.635 cm |
| 0.5 in | 1.27 cm |
| 1 in | 2.54 cm |
| 2 in | 5.08 cm |
| 3 in | 7.62 cm |
| 4 in | 10.16 cm |
| 5 in | 12.7 cm |
| 6 in | 15.24 cm |
| 7 in | 17.78 cm |
| 8 in | 20.32 cm |
| 9 in | 22.86 cm |
| 10 in | 25.4 cm |
| 11 in | 27.94 cm |
| 12 in | 30.48 cm |
| 15 in | 38.1 cm |
| 18 in | 45.72 cm |
| 20 in | 50.8 cm |
| 24 in | 60.96 cm |
| 30 in | 76.2 cm |
| 36 in | 91.44 cm |
| 48 in | 121.92 cm |
| 60 in | 152.4 cm |
| 72 in | 182.88 cm |
Values are calculated with exact factors and rounded for the table; the converter above shows full precision.
Worked examples
1 in to centimeters
1 × 2.54
2.54 cm
12 in to centimeters
12 × 2.54
30.48 cm
55 in to centimeters
55 × 2.54
139.7 cm
Questions
How many cm is 12 inches?
Exactly 30.48 cm, which is one foot.
Is the inch defined exactly in centimeters?
Yes. Since the 1959 international yard and pound agreement, 1 inch is exactly 2.54 cm, so every inches-to-cm result is exact before rounding.
How many cm is a 55-inch TV?
Its diagonal is 139.7 cm. TV sizes measure the screen diagonal, not the width.
Related conversions
- Centimeters to inches (the reverse)
- Meters to feet
- Feet to meters
- Kilometers to miles
- Miles to kilometers
- Millimeters to inches
- Length & distance converter: every length & distance unit, with the full drawing
The history: Where the inch, foot, yard and mile came from.