How to Convert Inches to Centimeters
Length · Last updated: July 2025
Whether you are reading a product label from Europe, sizing a TV, or converting a woodworking plan, inches and centimeters appear together constantly. The conversion is exact: 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters, defined since 1959 for the international inch.
The formula
Centimeters = inches × 2.54
Inches = centimeters ÷ 2.54 (or × 0.393701 for a quick estimate)
Unlike temperature, there is no offset—only multiplication. Twelve inches in a foot means one foot equals exactly 30.48 cm.
Common values
| From | To |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm |
| 6 in | 15.24 cm |
| 12 in (1 ft) | 30.48 cm |
| 24 in | 60.96 cm |
| 39.37 in | 100 cm |
| 72 in (6 ft) | 182.88 cm |
When people convert inches to cm
Consumer electronics and displays
TV and monitor sizes are marketed in inches (e.g. 55-inch diagonal) while EU energy labels and some mounting hardware use centimeters. Converting helps compare furniture depth or wall space in metric apartments.
Construction and lumber
US lumber is sold in nominal inches (2×4, 1×6) while metric countries use millimeters and centimeters. Converting board dimensions prevents ordering errors on international projects.
Height and body measurements
Medical records and fitness apps may use cm while US users think in feet and inches. Converting 5 ft 10 in: (5×12 + 10) = 70 in → 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm.
Common mistakes
- Using 2.5 instead of 2.54 for “close enough” work—over many inches the error adds up.
- Confusing square inches with linear inches (area uses in² × 6.4516 = cm²).
- Mixing US survey feet with the international foot (rare outside surveying; inch is the same).
Accuracy notes
For everyday use, four decimal places are plenty. Engineering drawings may specify tighter tolerances; always follow the project’s unit standard. tounits.com uses the exact 2.54 cm/in factor from NIST SP 811.
References
Try a live conversion: enter 6 in or 180 cm on the tounits.com converter.