Skip to content

Centimeters to Inches

Convert centimeters (cm) to inches (in). 1 cm = 0.39370079 in (and 1 in = 2.54 cm). It all runs locally in your browser.

=
Inches (in) 0.39370079

Centimeters to Inches table

CentimetersInches
0.5 cm0.19685039 in
1 cm0.39370079 in
2 cm0.78740157 in
3 cm1.1811024 in
5 cm1.9685039 in
10 cm3.9370079 in
25 cm9.8425197 in
50 cm19.685039 in
100 cm39.370079 in

Where this conversion shows up

Height is the classic case: medical records and passports in most of the world use centimeters, while the US thinks in feet and inches. It also comes up constantly in online shopping — clothing size charts, furniture dimensions and package sizes cross borders far more often than the units do.

Worked example

Your height is 170 cm and a US form wants feet and inches. 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches. Divide by 12: 5 feet, with 6.93 inches left over — so 170 cm is 5′7″ for everyday purposes.

Rounding and precision

One decimal place is enough for body measurements and clothing; carpentry in inches usually wants the nearest 1/16″ (0.16 cm). Mental shortcut: inches ≈ centimeters × 0.4 (170 cm → ~68, slightly high — the true factor is 0.3937).

How to convert

To convert centimeters to inches, multiply by 0.39370079. Need other units? Use the full Unit Converter.

FAQ

How many inches in a centimeter?

1 centimeter equals 0.39370079 inches (in).

How do I convert centimeters to inches?

Multiply the centimeters value by 0.39370079. For example, 5 cm = 1.9685039 in.

What is 170 cm in feet and inches?

170 cm is 66.93 inches, which is 5 feet 6.9 inches — usually written as 5′7″. Divide centimeters by 2.54 to get inches, then by 12 for feet.

Why is an inch exactly 2.54 cm?

The 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement defined the inch as exactly 25.4 mm, so cm-to-inch conversions are exact by definition rather than measured approximations.

Related conversions