How to convert inches to centimetres
One inch equals 2.54 centimetres, so multiply the number of inches by 2.54:
cm = in × 2.54
in = cm ÷ 2.54 (1 cm = 0.393701 in)
Example: 6 in → 6 × 2.54 = 15.24 cm.
Going the other way, divide by 2.54, or multiply by 0.393701; the centimetres to inches converter does it for you.
Everyday values
| Inches | Centimetres | For example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm | one inch |
| 6 in | 15.24 cm | a smartphone's height, roughly |
| 12 in | 30.48 cm | one foot |
| 24 in | 60.96 cm | a typical computer monitor size |
| 32 in | 81.28 cm | a common waist size |
| 55 in | 139.7 cm | a common TV size (diagonal) |
When you need this conversion
Inches appear on TV and monitor sizes, bicycle and car wheel sizes, jeans waist and leg lengths, and US construction drawings. Screen sizes are measured on the diagonal, so a 55-inch TV is about 140 cm from corner to corner, not 140 cm wide.
In clothing, US jeans sized "32/34" mean a 32-inch waist (81 cm) and a 34-inch inside leg (86 cm).
Inch to centimetre conversion table
| in | cm | in | cm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm | 19 in | 48.26 cm |
| 2 in | 5.08 cm | 20 in | 50.8 cm |
| 3 in | 7.62 cm | 21 in | 53.34 cm |
| 4 in | 10.16 cm | 22 in | 55.88 cm |
| 5 in | 12.7 cm | 23 in | 58.42 cm |
| 6 in | 15.24 cm | 24 in | 60.96 cm |
| 7 in | 17.78 cm | 25 in | 63.5 cm |
| 8 in | 20.32 cm | 26 in | 66.04 cm |
| 9 in | 22.86 cm | 27 in | 68.58 cm |
| 10 in | 25.4 cm | 28 in | 71.12 cm |
| 11 in | 27.94 cm | 29 in | 73.66 cm |
| 12 in | 30.48 cm | 30 in | 76.2 cm |
| 13 in | 33.02 cm | 31 in | 78.74 cm |
| 14 in | 35.56 cm | 32 in | 81.28 cm |
| 15 in | 38.1 cm | 33 in | 83.82 cm |
| 16 in | 40.64 cm | 34 in | 86.36 cm |
| 17 in | 43.18 cm | 35 in | 88.9 cm |
| 18 in | 45.72 cm | 36 in | 91.44 cm |
About the units
- Inch (in): exactly 2.54 centimetres (international agreement of 1959).
- Centimetre (cm): one hundredth of a metre.
Both are units of length. The conversion factor comes from the exact definitions above, so the calculator is exact; results are only rounded for display (up to six significant digits).
Frequently asked questions
How many centimetres are in one inch?
One inch is 2.54 centimetres. One centimetre is 0.393701 inches.
How do I convert inches to centimetres?
Multiply the value in inches by 2.54. To go back, divide by 2.54.
What is 6 in in centimetres?
6 in = 15.24 cm.
What is 12 in in centimetres?
12 in = 30.48 cm.
Sources
- NIST Special Publication 811 (2008), Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), Appendix B: conversion factors.
- NIST Handbook 44 (2024), Appendix C: General tables of units of measurement.
Last reviewed 5 October 2026. Results are estimates; see our disclaimer.