Enter values below to convert inch [in] to centimeter [cm] , or the other way around.
📐 Inch (in)
What It Is: An inch is a unit of length used in the imperial and US customary systems. Since 1959, it’s been officially defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters. There are 12 inches in a foot and 36 inches in a yard.
Where It Comes From: The term "inch" traces back to the Latin word uncia, meaning one-twelfth of a Roman foot. Historically, the inch has had several definitions—one quirky version equated it to the length of three barleycorns laid end-to-end. Another old method involved averaging the width of three human thumbs (small, medium, and large).
How It’s Used Today: Inches remain standard in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, especially in construction, manufacturing, and consumer products. They’re also commonly used in Japan and other countries when referring to screen sizes, such as TVs, monitors, and smartphones.
📏 Centimeter (cm)
What It Is: A centimeter is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI)—the modern metric system used around the world. It represents one-hundredth of a meter, making it ideal for measuring smaller distances with precision.
Where It Comes From: The word "centimeter" combines centi- (meaning one hundredth) with meter, the SI base unit for length. The metric system is built on a decimal structure, using prefixes like milli-, centi-, kilo-, and mega- to scale measurements up or down. Understanding these prefixes makes it easier to navigate scientific and everyday measurements.
How It’s Used Today: Centimeters are widely used in countries that follow the metric system. You’ll often see them used to measure height, dimensions of objects, or distances that are too small for meters but too large for millimeters. While the United States still relies heavily on inches, centimeters are the go-to unit in most of Europe, Asia, and beyond.
📏 Centimeter to Inch Conversion Guide
Need to convert centimeters to inches? Whether you're working on a project, studying for an exam, or just curious, this quick reference table and guide will help you make accurate conversions with ease.
🔢 Conversion Table
| Inches (in) | Centimeters (cm) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 in | 0.0254 cm |
| 0.1 in | 0.2540 cm |
| 1 in | 2.5400 cm |
| 2 in | 5.0800 cm |
| 3 in | 7.6200 cm |
| 5 in | 12.7000 cm |
| 10 in | 25.4000 cm |
| 20 in | 50.8000 cm |
| 50 in | 127.0000 cm |
| 100 in | 254.0000 cm |
| 1000 in | 2540.0000 cm |
Rounded to 4 decimal places for simplicity.
🧮 How to Convert
- From inches to centimeters: Multiply the length in inches by 2.54
1 in = 2.54 cm - From centimeters to inches: Multiply the length in centimeters by 0.3937
1 cm = 0.3937 in
✏️ Example Conversion
Convert 6 inches to centimeters: 6 in × 2.54 = 15.24 cm
So, 6 inches is equal to 15.24 centimeters.
💻 Behind the Scenes: The Logic That Powers This Converter
// Inch to Centimeter Converter
function convertInchToCM(inch) {
return inch * 2.54;
}
let inch = 6;
let centimeters = convertInchToCM(inch); // 15.24