Select a category and enter your values below
Multiple conversions
To convert from Inch (in) to Nanometer (nm), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Meter (m) and Foot (ft).
To convert from Inch (in) to Micrometer (μm), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Meter (m) and Foot (ft).
To convert from Inch (in) to Millimeter (mm), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Meter (m) and Foot (ft).
Need to convert inches to cm? The formula is very simple.
The most important fact to remember is that one inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters.
This single value is the key to all inches to cm conversions.
Since the inch is a unit of length used in the United States, knowing this formula is very useful for converting measurements.
To make the conversion, you just need to multiply by 2.54.
Formula: Centimeters = Inches × 2.54
For example, if you want to convert 12 inches (which is one foot) to centimeters, you would do this calculation:
While the math is simple, the quickest method is to use our centimeter conversion calculator at the top of the page for any of your needs.
To convert from Inch (in) to Decimeter (dm), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Meter (m) and Foot (ft).
To convert from Inch (in) to Meter (m), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Meter (m) and Foot (ft).
To convert from Inch (in) to Kilometer (km), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Meter (m) and Foot (ft).
To convert from Inch (in) to Mil (mil), use the following formula:
To convert from Inch (in) to Yard (yd), use the following formula:
To convert from Inch (in) to US Survey Foot (ft-us), use the following formula:
To convert from Inch (in) to Foot (ft), use the following formula:
To convert from Inch (in) to Fathom (fathom), use the following formula:
To convert from Inch (in) to Mile (mi), use the following formula:
To convert from Inch (in) to Nautical Mile (nMi), use the following formula:
An inch (in) is a standard unit of length used in the imperial and United States customary systems.
It is most commonly known as 1/12 of a foot. The plural form is "inches."
For a quick inch definition, here are the most important conversions:
The history of the inch goes back centuries. The word "inch" itself originates from the Latin word uncia, meaning "one-twelfth," which highlights its relationship to the larger unit of a foot.
Early definitions were often based on natural reference points. For a long time, an inch was widely considered to be the width of a man's thumb at the base of the nail.
To create a more reliable standard, 14th-century English King Edward II officially defined the inch as the length of three grains of barley placed end to end.
While the inch is an imperial unit, its official modern definition is based on the metric system.
Since 1959, an international agreement has defined the inch as exactly 2.54 centimeters (or 25.4 millimeters).
This universal standard, agreed upon by the United States, the United Kingdom, and other nations, ensures that the inch has a precise and globally recognized value.
This consistency is crucial for international trade, engineering, and science.
In fields that require extreme accuracy, such as engineering and machining, the inch is often divided into even smaller parts.
One-thousandth of an inch (1/1000 or 0.001 inches) is commonly known as a "thou" or a "mil."
Although very small, this unit is crucial for defining tolerances in the manufacture of engine components, electronic devices, and other precision equipment, where minute differences can have significant effects.
By comparison, a standard piece of paper measures roughly 2–4 thou in thickness.