Inches to Cm Converter
Convert inches to cm instantly with this free inch to centimeter converter. Type any inch value and get the exact centimeter result, then swap to run cm to inches conversion the other way. Includes quick reference tables for US heights, jeans waist sizes, and TV screen diagonals so you can convert centimeters to inches without doing the math by hand.
1 Inch = 2.54 Centimeter
US height conversion: feet and inches to cm
Common American heights mapped to centimeters for metric audiences.
| Feet and inches | Total inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in | 60 in | 152.40 cm |
| 5 ft 2 in | 62 in | 157.48 cm |
| 5 ft 4 in | 64 in | 162.56 cm |
| 5 ft 6 in | 66 in | 167.64 cm |
| 5 ft 8 in | 68 in | 172.72 cm |
| 5 ft 10 in | 70 in | 177.80 cm |
| 6 ft 0 in | 72 in | 182.88 cm |
| 6 ft 2 in | 74 in | 187.96 cm |
| 6 ft 4 in | 76 in | 193.04 cm |
| 6 ft 6 in | 78 in | 198.12 cm |
US jeans waist sizes in centimeters
Reference for ordering jeans across US and European brands.
| US waist (in) | Centimeters | European size |
|---|---|---|
| 26 in | 66.04 cm | EU 36 |
| 28 in | 71.12 cm | EU 38 |
| 30 in | 76.20 cm | EU 40 |
| 32 in | 81.28 cm | EU 42 |
| 34 in | 86.36 cm | EU 44 |
| 36 in | 91.44 cm | EU 46 |
| 38 in | 96.52 cm | EU 48 |
| 40 in | 101.60 cm | EU 50 |
TV and monitor screen sizes in cm
Diagonal screen measurements for common display sizes.
| Diagonal (in) | Centimeters | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 13 in | 33.02 cm | Laptop, small monitor |
| 15 in | 38.10 cm | Standard laptop |
| 24 in | 60.96 cm | Desktop monitor |
| 27 in | 68.58 cm | Premium monitor, small TV |
| 32 in | 81.28 cm | Small bedroom TV |
| 43 in | 109.22 cm | Mid-size TV |
| 50 in | 127.00 cm | Living room TV |
| 55 in | 139.70 cm | Popular living room size |
| 65 in | 165.10 cm | Large living room TV |
| 75 in | 190.50 cm | Home theater |
Why use this converter
Instant conversion
Type any inch value and see the cm result update without pressing a button.
Jeans waist reference
Common US waist sizes (28, 30, 32, 34 inches) in centimeters for European jeans shopping.
TV screen sizes
See common screen diagonals (32, 43, 55, 65 inches) in cm for tight wall mount planning.
Height chart inside
5'0" to 6'5" mapped to centimeters in one easy table.
Swap any time
Switch the direction to cm to inches in one click.
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When you need inches to cm
Buying jeans from US brands
US jeans use waist size in inches (32W, 34W). European retailers list cm. Convert before ordering to avoid returns.
Translating US heights
A Hollywood actor listed at 6'2"? That is 188 cm. Quick conversion lets you compare to people you know in metric units.
TV and monitor purchases
TVs are sold in inches diagonal but living rooms are measured in cm. Convert to plan wall mounts and viewing distances.
Furniture from US retailers
IKEA lists cm. US brands like West Elm and Pottery Barn list inches. Convert when ordering from either to fit your space.
Construction and DIY plans
US-sourced building plans use inches. Compare with metric materials and tools by converting beam lengths, room widths, and ceiling heights.
Phone and laptop screen sizes
A 6.7-inch iPhone screen is 17.0 cm diagonal. Useful when comparing to other devices listed in cm.
About inches and centimeters
The inches to cm formula
One inch equals exactly 2.54 centimeters. To convert inches to cm, just multiply the inch value by 2.54. Going the other way for cm to inches conversion, divide the centimeter value by 2.54. The exact ratio of 2.54 has been the international standard since 1959, when the US, UK, and Commonwealth countries agreed to a single definition of the inch. Because the figure is exact rather than rounded, every result you get from this inch to centimeter converter is precise, not an estimate.
How to convert centimeters to inches
Centimeters to inches conversion is the reverse of the formula above: divide the centimeter value by 2.54. For example, 30 centimeters to inches works out to 30 divided by 2.54, which equals 11.81 inches. The same method covers any of the common searches people run, such as 15 cm in inches (5.91 in), 20 cm in inches (7.87 in), 40 centimeters to inches (15.75 in), and 50 cm in inches (19.69 in). Use the swap control on this tool to flip between inches to cm and cm and inch conversion without retyping anything.
Quick centimeters to inches reference
A short mental table helps when you need a fast answer. 1 cm is about 0.39 inches, 5 cm is roughly 1.97 inches, 10 cm is 3.94 inches, 17 cm in inches is 6.69 inches, 25 cm is 9.84 inches, and 100 cm (one meter) is 39.37 inches. For the opposite direction, 1 inch is 2.54 cm, 6 inches is 15.24 cm, 12 inches is 30.48 cm, and 36 inches (one yard) is 91.44 cm. When you need an exact figure rather than a rounded one, the converter above and the charts on this page give you the precise value instantly.
How to convert feet and inches to cm
First convert feet to inches by multiplying by 12, then add any remaining inches. Then multiply the total by 2.54. Example: 5 feet 8 inches. 5 x 12 = 60 inches. 60 + 8 = 68 inches. 68 x 2.54 = 172.72 cm. So 5\'8" is 172.72 cm, often rounded to 173 cm in everyday speech. The height chart higher up the page does this calculation for every common US height between 5\'0" and 6\'6", which is handy when comparing American heights to people you know in metric countries.
Millimeters, centimeters, and inches
The metric system links its length units by simple powers of ten, which makes millimeter to cm conversion easy: there are 10 millimeters in one centimeter, so you divide millimeters by 10 to get centimeters and multiply by 10 for the reverse centimeter to mm conversion. Connecting this to imperial units, one inch equals 25.4 millimeters and 2.54 centimeters. Tradespeople, model makers, and engineers often need all three units at once, since hardware specs frequently mix millimeters for small parts with inches for fasteners.
Why does the US still use inches?
The US inherited the imperial system from British colonial measurements. Britain partially switched to metric during the 20th century but still uses imperial for some everyday measurements (like beer in pints and road distances in miles). The US Metric Conversion Act of 1975 declared metric the preferred system but did not mandate it. Construction, clothing, and consumer products in the US still use inches and feet, which is exactly why an inches to cm converter is so useful when you shop, build, or compare across borders.
Common inch references to remember
A US dollar bill is 6.14 inches long (15.6 cm). A standard US letter sheet is 8.5 x 11 inches (21.6 x 27.9 cm). An American football is 11 inches long (28 cm). A 12-inch ruler is 30.48 cm. A foot equals 30.48 cm exactly, since a foot is 12 inches. Keeping a few of these anchors in mind lets you sanity check any conversion result at a glance.
Clothing size conversion tip
US jeans waist sizes match the actual waist measurement in inches (a 32 means 32-inch waist). European sizes are different numbers but represent the same waist circumference in cm. So a US 32 (81.28 cm) is roughly EU 42 in most brands. Always check the brand-specific size chart because cuts and fabric affect the actual fit beyond just the waist measurement.
Accuracy and rounding
Because the inch is defined as exactly 2.54 cm, the only thing that affects accuracy is how far you round the final answer. For everyday tasks such as buying clothes or planning a TV wall mount, rounding to one decimal place is fine. For engineering, tailoring, or scientific work, keep two or more decimals, since small rounding errors add up over long measurements. This converter shows enough decimal places to stay precise while still being easy to read.
1 inch equals exactly 2.54 centimeters. This is the international definition agreed in 1959 by the US, UK, and other English-speaking countries.
Multiply the inch value by 2.54. For example, 12 inches x 2.54 = 30.48 cm. To go from cm to inches, divide by 2.54 instead. Our converter handles both directions.
5 feet 10 inches equals 177.8 cm. Calculation: (5 x 12 + 10) inches = 70 inches. 70 x 2.54 = 177.8 cm. This is a common male height in the US.
6 feet equals 182.88 cm. This is considered tall in most countries, where average male height is around 175 to 178 cm.
A 24-inch waist equals 60.96 cm. US clothing sizes use inches for waist measurements while European brands use cm. This conversion is key for buying jeans internationally.
A 55-inch TV has a 139.7 cm diagonal screen. TV sizes in the US are measured in inches, but the dimensions on the box are usually listed in cm and inches both.
A 32-inch waist equals 81.28 cm. This is a common adult male jeans size in the US. European sizes for this would be around 80 to 82.
7 inches equals 17.78 cm. A common reference for hand size, phone screen, or small ruler.
5 feet 4 inches equals 162.56 cm. This is a common female height in Western countries and slightly above average for women in many Asian countries.
The US inherited the imperial system from British colonial measurements. While Britain switched to metric in the 1960s and 1970s, the US never officially mandated the change. Daily measurements in the US (height, jeans size, screen size, building plans) remain in inches.
Divide the centimeter value by 2.54 to get inches. For example, 25 cm divided by 2.54 equals 9.84 inches. This is the exact reverse of the inches to cm formula, and the swap button on our converter does it for you instantly.
15 cm equals 5.91 inches. The calculation is 15 divided by 2.54. In everyday use this is often rounded to about 6 inches.
20 cm equals 7.87 inches. To get this, divide 20 by 2.54. It is just under 8 inches, a useful reference for small object sizes.
30 centimeters equals 11.81 inches, which is just under one foot. Divide 30 by 2.54 to confirm. A 30 cm ruler is the metric equivalent of a US 12-inch ruler.
50 cm equals 19.69 inches. The calculation is 50 divided by 2.54. That is roughly 1 foot 7.7 inches if you split it into feet and inches.
Divide the millimeter value by 10, since there are 10 millimeters in one centimeter. For example, 45 mm equals 4.5 cm. For the reverse centimeter to mm conversion, multiply the centimeter value by 10.
Yes. One inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters, so the conversion itself introduces no error. The only thing that affects precision is how far you choose to round the final answer.