Cm to Inches Converter — With Fractions to 1/16 Inch

How to convert centimeters to inches

Divide the centimeters by 2.54:

inches = centimeters ÷ 2.54

30 cm ÷ 2.54 = 11.811 in, or 11.81 in. The inch is defined as exactly 2.54 cm, so the answer is exact before rounding. On a ruler marked in sixteenths, 11.81 in is 11 13/16 in; the converter shows that line too.

To go back, multiply inches by 2.54, or use the inches to centimeters converter. For millimeters, see mm to inches.

Centimeters to inches chart

Centimeters	Inches	Nearest 1/16 in
1 cm	0.3937 in	3/8 in
2 cm	0.7874 in	13/16 in
2.5 cm	0.9843 in	1 in
3 cm	1.181 in	1 3/16 in
5 cm	1.969 in	1 15/16 in
10 cm	3.937 in	3 15/16 in
15 cm	5.906 in	5 7/8 in
20 cm	7.874 in	7 7/8 in
25 cm	9.843 in	9 13/16 in
30 cm	11.81 in	11 13/16 in
40 cm	15.75 in	15 3/4 in
50 cm	19.69 in	19 11/16 in
60 cm	23.62 in	23 5/8 in
100 cm	39.37 in	39 3/8 in

To convert a list — product dimensions, a sewing pattern — open Convert a list of values and paste the centimeters one per line.

Small measurements: sewing and crafts

Patterns from Europe give seam allowances and hems in centimeters, while U.S. sewing gauges are marked in fractions of an inch:

1 cm = 0.39 in, close to 3/8 in;
1.5 cm = 0.59 in, close to 5/8 in, the standard U.S. seam allowance;
2 cm = 0.79 in, close to 13/16 in; 2.5 cm is about 1 in.

The difference is small for a single seam but adds up across a garment; for a precise fit, keep the pattern in centimeters and measure with a metric tape.

Paper sizes in inches

International paper sizes follow ISO 216 and are given in millimeters; U.S. sizes are in inches.

Paper	Centimeters	Inches
A3	29.7 × 42 cm	11.69 × 16.54 in
A4	21 × 29.7 cm	8.27 × 11.69 in
A5	14.8 × 21 cm	5.83 × 8.27 in
A6	10.5 × 14.8 cm	4.13 × 5.83 in
U.S. Letter	21.59 × 27.94 cm	8.5 × 11 in
U.S. Legal	21.59 × 35.56 cm	8.5 × 14 in

An A4 document printed on Letter paper loses about 1.75 cm (0.69 in) at the bottom unless it is scaled to fit.

Height in centimeters

Heights are usually given in feet and inches, not inches alone: 160 cm is 62.99 in, which is 5 ft 3 in; 175 cm is 5 ft 8.9 in; 183 cm is 6 ft. For a full height chart, use centimeters to feet and inches, and for meters, meters to feet.

Frequently asked questions

How many inches is a centimeter?

0.3937 inch. An inch is exactly 2.54 cm, so a centimeter is 1 ÷ 2.54 = 0.393700787 inch — a little under 3/8 inch.

How many inches is 30 cm?

11.81 inches, or 11 13/16 inches to the nearest sixteenth. A 30 cm ruler is almost, but not quite, a foot long (12 in = 30.48 cm).

How big is A4 paper in inches?

8.27 × 11.69 inches (21 × 29.7 cm). U.S. Letter is 8.5 × 11 inches (21.59 × 27.94 cm), so A4 is narrower and longer than Letter.

How do I read the result on a ruler?

Use the 'nearest 1/16 inch' line. U.S. rulers and tape measures are marked in sixteenths, so 11.81 in reads as 11 13/16 in — the 13th small mark after 11.

How tall is 160 cm in feet and inches?

5 ft 3 in (62.99 in). For heights, the centimeters to feet and inches converter gives feet and inches as the main answer.

What is the easiest way to convert cm to inches in my head?

Multiply by 4 and divide by 10: 30 cm × 4 ÷ 10 = 12 in (exact: 11.81). That is 1.6% high. Dividing by 2.5 gives the same.