How many inches are in a centimeter?

1 cm = 0.393701 in. To convert any amount, multiply by 0.393701.

How do you convert centimeters to inches?

Multiply the number of centimeters by 0.393701 to get inches. The formula is shown in the "How it's calculated" section above.

Where does the conversion factor come from?

It's a published international standard. Most are defined exactly by international agreement (e.g. 1 inch = 25.4 mm exactly, 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg exactly). Source citations are listed under the formula above.

Unit converter — Length

Centimeters to inches converter

Convert centimeters (cm) to inches (in). Source-cited conversion factor, exact to the displayed precision.

Results are mathematically exact for the displayed precision. How we calculate.

How it's calculated

Convert centimeters to inches— the formula

Centimeters convert to inches by multiplying by the published conversion factor. The factor below is exact to the precision shown, sourced from the citation under the formula.

in = cm × 0.393701

cm = in × 2.54

SI base unit (BIPM). US customary lengths from the 1959 international yard agreement: 1 yd = 0.9144 m exactly, 1 in = 25.4 mm exactly, 1 mi = 1609.344 m exactly.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How many inches are in a centimeter?
1 cm = 0.393701 in. To convert any amount, multiply by 0.393701.
How do you convert centimeters to inches?
Multiply the number of centimeters by 0.393701 to get inches. The formula is shown in the "How it's calculated" section above.
Where does the conversion factor come from?
It's a published international standard. Most are defined exactly by international agreement (e.g. 1 inch = 25.4 mm exactly, 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg exactly). Source citations are listed under the formula above.