CM to Inches formula
1 centimetre = 0.3937007874 inches, and 1 inch = 2.54 centimetres. One hundredth of a metre.
CM to Inches chart
| Centimetres (cm) | Inches (in) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.3937 |
| 2 | 0.7874 |
| 3 | 1.1811 |
| 4 | 1.5748 |
| 5 | 1.9685 |
| 6 | 2.3622 |
| 7 | 2.7559 |
| 8 | 3.1496 |
| 9 | 3.5433 |
| 10 | 3.937 |
| 12 | 4.7244 |
| 15 | 5.9055 |
| 20 | 7.874 |
| 25 | 9.8425 |
| 30 | 11.811 |
| 40 | 15.748 |
| 50 | 19.685 |
| 60 | 23.622 |
| 70 | 27.5591 |
| 80 | 31.4961 |
| 90 | 35.4331 |
| 100 | 39.3701 |
| 150 | 59.0551 |
| 200 | 78.7402 |
Values are rounded to 4 decimal places. The converter above shows more precision.
Worked examples
A waist measured at 81 cm
81 cm ÷ 2.54 = 31.8898 in
81 centimetres = 31.8898 inches. Jeans are often sold by waist size in inches, so an 81 cm waist matches a size 32 in most brands. Check the brand’s own chart, because cuts vary.
A laptop screen 35.6 cm across
35.6 cm ÷ 2.54 = 14.0157 in
35.6 centimetres = 14.0157 inches. Screens are measured on the diagonal, so this is the screen sold as a 14-inch laptop.
Converting centimetres to inches in real life
Centimetres are the everyday unit in most of the world, but inches still rule in a few places that matter: US and UK clothing sizes, TV, laptop and phone screens, picture frames, bike wheels and many product listings on Amazon or eBay. If a waist size, a monitor diagonal or a parcel limit is given in inches, convert your centimetre measurement before you buy.
The 2.54 figure is exact. It was fixed by the 1959 international yard and pound agreement, so there is no rounding in the definition itself. Any small differences you see between sites come from how many decimals they show. For body height, which is usually given in feet and inches, use the cm to feet page instead.