Centimeters to Inches (cm to in) Converter

Instantly convert centimeters (cm) to inches (in) and feet (ft). Our free calculator shows results in decimals, fractions, and feet + inches for height.

Converter

A fast, bidirectional converter for centimeters, inches, and feet. Enter a value in any of the first three fields to see all values update instantly.

How to Convert Centimeters to Inches

Converting from centimeters (cm) to inches (in) is simple once you know the exact conversion factor. For height, it's also useful to convert the total inches into feet and inches.

The Exact Formula: CM to Inches

The international standard for the inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters.

1 inch = 2.54 cm

To convert from cm to inches, you divide your centimeter value by 2.54. Alternatively, you can multiply by the reciprocal (1 / 2.54), which is 0.3937007874.

How to Convert CM to Feet and Inches

This is the most common reason for this conversion, usually for height. The process has two steps:

  1. Convert CM to Total Inches: First, get the total inches by dividing by 2.54.
    Example: 180 cm / 2.54 = 70.866 inches
  2. Convert Total Inches to Feet and Inches: There are 12 inches in one foot.
    • Divide the total inches by 12. The whole number is your feet (70.866 / 12 = 5.9..., so 5 feet).
    • The decimal remainder (0.9055...) multiplied by 12 gives the remaining inches (0.9055... × 12 = 10.866 inches).

Therefore, 180 cm is equal to 5' 10.87" (or 5 feet, 10 7/8 inches).

CM to Inches Quick Conversion Chart

Centimeters (cm) Inches (Decimal) Feet & Inches (approx.)
1 cm 0.39 in 0' 0 25/64"
5 cm 1.97 in 0' 1 31/32"
10 cm 3.94 in 0' 3 15/16"
30 cm 11.81 in 0' 11 13/16"
50 cm 19.69 in 1' 7 11/16"
100 cm 39.37 in 3' 3 3/8"
150 cm 59.06 in 4' 11 1/16"
180 cm 70.87 in 5' 10 7/8"

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is 1 inch 2.5 or 2.54 cm?

The official, internationally defined conversion is 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly. Using 2.5 cm is only a rough approximation and should not be used for accurate measurements.

What is 1 cm in inches (fraction)?

1 cm is equal to 0.3937 inches. As a fraction, this is approximately 25/64" (twenty-five sixty-fourths of an inch).

What is 5cm in inches?

5 cm is equal to 1.9685 inches. As a fraction, this is just under 2 inches, or approximately 1 31/32".

Formulas

Centimeters to Inches: Inches = Centimeters / 2.54

Feet + Inches: Feet = floor(Inches / 12), Remaining Inches = Inches % 12

Fractional inches (approx): best-fit denominator up to 64 and simplified via GCD.

Citations

NIST — Weights and measures — nist.gov · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures

NIST — SI units — nist.gov · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/metric-si/si-units

Changelog
  • 0.1.0-draft — 2026-01-19: Initial draft generated from the original extraction.
  • Audit spec notes: Verify formulas match the calculator engine and confirm sources are authoritative.
Verified by Ugo Candido Last Updated: 2026-01-19 Version 0.1.0-draft
Version 1.5.0