How do you convert inches to centimeters?
Multiply inches by 2.54 to get centimeters, because one inch equals exactly 2.54 centimeters (or divide centimeters by 2.54 to get inches). Example: 12 in × 2.54 = 30.48 cm. For millimeters, multiply inches by 25.4 instead.
Source: Unit conversion (1 in = 2.54 cm) · Verify against your AHJ and the adopted code edition.
One inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters, so:
centimeters = inches × 2.54 (and inches = centimeters ÷ 2.54)
Handy reference points:
| Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm |
| 12 in | 30.48 cm |
| 36 in | 91.44 cm |
| 100 in | 254 cm |
The factor is exact: the inch is defined as 25.4 mm, which is 2.54 cm. For millimeters, use inches × 25.4 (so 1 in = 25.4 mm).
Work it out: the feet-inch-fraction converter
takes 12" (or 3-3/8") and returns centimeters, millimeters, and decimal feet —
and it parses fractions, so you don’t convert them by hand first.