Centimeters to Inches Converter

Length conversion · Updated 2026-10-04

Converting centimeters to inches is a multiplication by a fixed factor: 1 cm = 0.3937008 in. The table below covers the values people look up most often, and the formula section shows exactly where that factor comes from.

Because one centimeter works out to 0.3937008 in, the inch is the much smaller unit of the two: a figure given in inch always carries a smaller number than the same measurement in centimeter. A chart drawn in cm can hide that, so check which label the axis uses before you compare two readings.

DIY and home-improvement work is where this pair shows up most: you measure in centimeters but the hardware store or an imported product sheet quotes inches, so the conversion has to be right the first time.

The conversion factor used here is 0.3937008 in per centimeter (7 significant digits as shown). Kept to seven figures it covers professional measurement; if you round it to two or three decimals for a spreadsheet, the error scales with the input — at a value of 1,000 cm a factor rounded to three decimals can be off by a measurable amount. The reverse direction uses 2.54 cm per in, the exact reciprocal, so a round trip through both pages returns your original number.

Centimeters to Inches formula

Use this formula to convert any centimeter value to inches:

Worked example: 100 cm × 0.3937008 = 39.37008 in.

Centimeters to Inches conversion table

Centimeters (cm)	Inches (in)
0.5 cm	0.1968504 in
1 cm	0.3937008 in
2 cm	0.7874016 in
5 cm	1.968504 in
10 cm	3.937008 in
20 cm	7.874016 in
50 cm	19.68504 in
100 cm	39.37008 in
500 cm	196.8504 in
1000 cm	393.7008 in

How to convert centimeters to inches

Multiply the centimeter value by 0.3937008 to get the equivalent in inches. This single factor works for every value in the table above and for anything else you need — there is no per-value adjustment, which is why a conversion table and a calculator always agree.

If you need the opposite direction, use the Inches to Centimeters converter instead of dividing by hand; both pages use the same source factors. For every other cm conversion in one place, see the cm conversion hub.

Frequently asked questions

How many inches are in 1 centimeter?
1 centimeter = 0.3937008 in.

What is 100 centimeters in inches?
100 cm = 39.37008 in.

Is converting centimeters to inches the same as inches to centimeters?
No — the direction changes the multiplier. The reverse conversion (1 in = 2.54 cm) is on the Inches to Centimeters page.

Related conversions

Try the ConvBolt Unit Converter for any other length unit, browse the Length conversions, or read our conversion guides.