How to Convert CM to Inches (and Inches to CM) – Simple Guide
If you’ve ever ordered clothes from another country, measured a TV, or checked your height for a BMI calculator, you’ve probably had to switch between centimeters (cm) and inches (in). Most of the world uses centimeters, while the US and a few other places still rely heavily on inches and feet. This page gives you both: an instant cm ⇄ inches calculator plus a friendly guide so you actually understand what the numbers mean.
The converter above works in both directions: type in centimeters to get inches, or flip it and type inches to get centimeters. You’ll also see the result broken down into feet + inches, a visual scale, and a handy quick table for common values. Perfect for shopping, DIY projects, school work, or health tracking.
CM to Inches Formula
The CM to inches relationship is fixed and exact: 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters. That means:
Inches = CM ÷ 2.54
or equivalently: Inches = CM × 0.393701
Examples:
• 10 cm ÷ 2.54 ≈ 3.94 in
• 50 cm ÷ 2.54 ≈ 19.69 in
• 100 cm ÷ 2.54 ≈ 39.37 in
Because an inch is bigger than a centimeter, the number gets smaller when you go from cm → inches (for example, 100 cm becomes about 39.37 inches).
Inches to CM Formula
Going the other way is just as simple. To convert inches back to centimeters, you multiply:
CM = Inches × 2.54
Examples:
• 5 in × 2.54 = 12.7 cm
• 12 in × 2.54 = 30.48 cm
• 72 in × 2.54 = 182.88 cm
This is useful for things like body measurements, clothing sizes, and furniture dimensions. If you're working with health numbers like height and weight, you can also combine this tool with our Body Fat Calculator, BMR Calculator, or BMI Calculator.
Real-Life CM ⇄ Inches Examples
• Waist 76 cm ≈ 30 in
• Chest 102 cm ≈ 40 in
• Inseam 81 cm ≈ 32 in
📺 Screens & devices
• 27-inch monitor ≈ 68.6 cm diagonal
• 55-inch TV ≈ 139.7 cm diagonal
• Phone with 6.5-inch screen ≈ 16.5 cm
🏠 Home & furniture
• 200 cm bed ≈ 78.7 in (~6.5 ft)
• 90 cm door width ≈ 35.4 in
• 240 cm ceiling height ≈ 94.5 in (~7.9 ft)
Anytime you see centimeters on a product page but think in inches (or the opposite), just plug the value into the converter above and you’ll get instant, clean results plus a feet + inches breakdown.
Quick Mental Conversion Tips
You don’t always have to be exact. For fast, rough estimates, these shortcuts are very handy:
- 1 inch ≈ 2.5 cm (actual: 2.54 cm)
- 1 cm ≈ 0.4 in (actual: 0.3937 in)
- 10 cm ≈ 4 in (actual: 3.94 in)
- 100 cm ≈ 40 in (actual: 39.37 in)
A simple mental rule is: “divide by 2.5 for cm → inches” and “multiply by 2.5 for inches → cm” when you just need a ballpark figure. For anything important (cutting wood, tailoring, health numbers, etc.), use the exact converter on this page.
Common CM ⇄ Inches Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing up mm and cm: 10 mm is not 10 cm – it’s 1 cm. Always double-check the unit.
- Using the wrong direction: CM → inches = ÷ 2.54, inches → CM = × 2.54.
- Rounding too early: Do the full calculation first, then round the final result.
- Forgetting feet: For heights, convert total inches to feet + inches (the calculator already does this for you).
Related Calculators You Might Find Useful
If you work with measurements a lot, check out some of our other tools:
- Area Converter – convert between square meters, square feet, and more.
- Percentage Calculator – great for discounts, grades, and statistics.
- Compound Interest Calculator – for long-term savings and investments.
- Age Calculator – quickly work out exact age in years, months, and days.
CM to Inches Converter – FAQ
Final Thoughts
Once you remember that 1 inch = 2.54 cm, everything else is just a quick divide or multiply. Use this CM ⇄ inches converter whenever you need precise results, and keep the mental shortcuts in mind for quick estimates. When you’re done, feel free to explore more tools on CalculatorForYou.online, from Loan Calculator to Compound Interest Calculator and many others.