Convert centimetres to inches in one step. Type a value, change the units if you need a different pair, and the answer updates as you type, with the reverse rate and a quick reference list.
Results are estimates for planning. Check the figures before you make a financial or health decision.
How to convert centimetres to inches
Multiply the number of cm by 0.393701 to get in:
in = cm × 0.393701
To go the other way, divide by 0.393701 (or multiply by 2.54). The converter stores each unit as a multiple of a base unit, so you can also pick any other pair of units from the same group.
Worked example
Using the default values in the converter above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Value | 30 |
| From | Centimetres |
| To | Inches |
30 centimetres equals 11.811024 inches
CM to Inches reference table
| Centimetres | Inches |
|---|---|
| 1 cm | 0.393701 in |
| 2 cm | 0.787402 in |
| 5 cm | 1.968504 in |
| 10 cm | 3.937008 in |
| 20 cm | 7.874016 in |
| 50 cm | 19.685039 in |
| 100 cm | 39.370079 in |
| 500 cm | 196.850394 in |
| 1,000 cm | 393.700787 in |
Tips and common mistakes
The inch, foot, yard and mile are defined exactly in metric terms: 1 inch is 25.4 mm, 1 foot is 0.3048 m and 1 mile is 1.609344 km. The factors used here are therefore exact, and any rounding comes only from the number of digits shown.
The most common mistake is treating the part after the decimal point of a foot as inches. 5.5 ft means five and a half feet, which is 5 ft 6 in, not 5 ft 5 in. Check that you are reading a decimal and not a feet-and-inches pair.
For quick mental maths, remember that an inch is about 2.5 cm, a foot is about 30 cm, a metre is a little over 3 ft 3 in, and a mile is about 1.6 km.
Frequently asked questions
How many inches are in 1 cm?
1 cm equals 0.393701 inches.
How do I convert cm to in by hand?
Multiply the cm figure by 0.393701. For example, 30 cm × 0.393701 = 11.811024 in.
How do I convert in back to cm?
Divide the in figure by 0.393701, or multiply it by 2.54. For example, 11.811024 in is 30 cm.
Is this conversion exact?
The inch, foot, yard and mile are defined exactly in metric terms, so the factor is exact. Any difference comes only from rounding.