Convert inches to centimetres. Multiply by 2.54 for an exact result, with reference tables for screen sizes, clothing and height.

The formula

centimetres = inches × 2.54

The factor is exact, not approximate. Since the international yard and pound agreement of 1959, one inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres, so this conversion loses no precision in either direction.

To go the other way, divide by 2.54. See cm to inches.

Quick reference

Inches	Centimetres
1 in	2.54 cm
2 in	5.08 cm
6 in	15.24 cm
12 in	30.48 cm — one foot
24 in	60.96 cm
36 in	91.44 cm — one yard
39.37 in	100 cm — one metre

Screen sizes

A screen size in inches is the diagonal, not the width. The width depends on the aspect ratio, so two screens with the same stated size are different objects if their shapes differ:

Size	Diagonal	Width at 16:9	Height at 16:9
13 in	33.0 cm	28.8 cm	16.2 cm
15.6 in	39.6 cm	34.5 cm	19.4 cm
24 in	61.0 cm	53.1 cm	29.9 cm
27 in	68.6 cm	59.8 cm	33.6 cm
32 in	81.3 cm	70.8 cm	39.9 cm
55 in	139.7 cm	121.8 cm	68.5 cm
65 in	165.1 cm	143.9 cm	80.9 cm

Measure the wall or the desk against the width, never the diagonal. A 65-inch television needs about 144 cm of clear space, not 165 cm.

Clothing

Inches	Centimetres	Usually
28 in	71.1 cm	waist
30 in	76.2 cm	waist, or a short inside leg
32 in	81.3 cm	waist or inside leg
34 in	86.4 cm
36 in	91.4 cm
38 in	96.5 cm

Jeans labelled 32 × 34 are 32 inches at the waist and 34 inches in the inside leg — 81 cm and 86 cm.

Height

Feet and inches	Total inches	Centimetres
5′ 0″	60 in	152.4 cm
5′ 4″	64 in	162.6 cm
5′ 6″	66 in	167.6 cm
5′ 8″	68 in	172.7 cm
5′ 10″	70 in	177.8 cm
6′ 0″	72 in	182.9 cm
6′ 2″	74 in	188.0 cm

Multiply the feet by 12 and add the inches to get the total, then multiply by 2.54.

Estimating in your head

Multiply by 2.5. The answer comes out about 1.6% low, which is a centimetre short over two feet — fine for judging whether furniture fits, not fine for cutting it.

Inches to centimetres