What is a Centimeter (cm)?

A centimeter (cm) is a metric unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), equal to one-hundredth of a meter (1 cm = 0.01 m). The prefix centi- means one-hundredth, making it easy to convert within the metric system.

Centimeters are widely used for height measurements, tailoring, fabric lengths, and scientific applications. Most countries worldwide use centimeters as part of the metric system, except for a few like the United States, which uses inches for daily measurements.

Common uses of centimeters: Height, garment dimensions, school projects, and manufacturing.

What is an Inch (in)?

An inch (in) is a unit of length in the imperial and U.S. customary systems, defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters. There are 12 inches in a foot and 36 inches in a yard.

The word “inch” comes from the Latin term uncia, meaning “one-twelfth.” Historically, the inch was based on the width of three barleycorns or the width of a thumb. Today, inches are commonly used in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for furniture, construction, electronics, and human height measurements.

Common uses of inches: Display screens, furniture, construction, and height measurements.

Quick Conversion: cm ↔ in

• 1 centimeter = 0.3937 inches
• 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters

Use these formulas for manual conversions, or simply use our free cm to inch and inch to cm calculator above for instant results.

Why Use Our Converter?

• Instant, accurate results for cm to inches and inches to cm
• Mobile-friendly and easy to use on any device
• Ideal for garment factories, tailors, students, engineers, and DIY projects
• Helps save time compared to manual calculations