180 cm person height
- Start with 180 cm.
- Convert: 180 ÷ 2.54 ≈ 70.87 inches.
- Interpretation: 70.87 in ≈ 5 ft (60 in) + 10.87 in, or roughly 5'11".
unit calculator
Centimeters to Inches Converter
Convert metric lengths to inches when buying US-based products.
Results
- Inches
- 19.69 in
How to use this calculator
- Enter a length in centimeters, using decimals if needed (for example, 72.5 cm).
- We divide the value by 2.54 to convert to inches using the exact relationship between inches and centimeters.
- Review the inch result and round or convert to feet-and-inches format if required for your application.
Inputs explained
- Centimeters
- The metric length you want to convert to inches. You can measure directly in centimeters or convert from meters (×100) or millimeters (÷10) first.
How it works
An inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters, so the conversion is precise by definition.
We divide your centimeter value by 2.54 to compute inches using full precision, then round the display to a sensible number of decimals.
You can treat the result as decimal inches or further break it into feet and inches if your plans require that format.
Formula
Inches = Centimeters ÷ 2.54\n\nBecause 1 inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters, dividing a length in centimeters by 2.54 gives the equivalent length in inches.
When to use it
- Buying US-sized clothing, shoes, or furniture online when your tape measure or product specs are in centimeters.
- Converting metric woodworking or cabinetry measurements to inches to match your tools, plans, or lumber dimensions.
- Translating hardware and fastener lengths from metric packaging into inches for compatibility with US parts lists.
- Preparing travel packing lists or luggage measurements when airlines list sizes in inches but your suitcase is labeled in centimeters.
- Helping students, engineers, and DIYers bridge the gap between metric and imperial units in labs, projects, or home repairs.
Tips & cautions
- 2.54 cm per inch is exact, so any differences you see are from rounding on the display; keep extra decimals for precise work.
- If you need feet and inches, divide the inch result by 12: the whole number is feet and the remainder × 12 gives inches (for example, 70.87 in ≈ 5 ft + 10.87 in).
- For meters, multiply by 100 to get centimeters before using this converter (1.8 m → 180 cm → 70.87 in).
- Match the number of decimal places to your project—coarse carpentry can tolerate fewer decimals than machining or engineering work.
- For quick mental math, remember that 1 cm ≈ 0.39 in; the calculator uses the exact 0.393700787… factor internally.
- Converts centimeters to decimal inches only; it does not automatically format results as feet-and-inches or inches and fractions.
- Assumes standard metric and imperial definitions; it does not account for legacy or non-standard unit systems.
- Rounding on the display may differ from the precision used by CAD software, CNC machines, or high-precision instruments.
Worked examples
30 cm shelf depth
- Start with 30 cm.
- Convert: 30 ÷ 2.54 ≈ 11.81 inches.
- Interpretation: this fits under a typical 12 in nominal depth, useful when matching to US shelving systems.
2.5 cm hardware length
- Start with 2.5 cm.
- Convert: 2.5 ÷ 2.54 ≈ 0.984 in.
- Interpretation: about 1 inch long, so you can treat this as a 1" fastener for many practical purposes.
Deep dive
Use this centimeters to inches converter to translate metric measurements into precise inch values using the exact 2.54 cm per inch definition.
Perfect for shopping US-sized products, woodworking, hardware projects, and homework when you need to move from centimeters to inches fast.
Enter centimeters and instantly see the equivalent inches so you can match metric specs to imperial tools, plans, and parts.
FAQs
- Is the 2.54 factor really exact?
- Yes. By international agreement, 1 inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters, so the math is precise before rounding.
- How do I convert to feet and inches?
- First convert centimeters to inches with this tool. Then divide by 12: the whole number is feet and the remainder times 12 gives leftover inches.
- Is this accurate enough for woodworking or engineering?
- Yes, the conversion is exact. Just choose an appropriate number of decimal places and round according to your tape measure or drawing tolerance.
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This cm to inches converter is for general planning, shopping, and educational use. Always apply your own rounding rules and project tolerances before cutting materials or finalizing engineering drawings.