10-inch shelf
- Inches = 10.
- Centimeters = 10 × 2.54 = 25.4 cm.
- Interpretation: a 10 in deep shelf is 25.4 cm in metric documentation.
unit calculator
Inches to Centimeters Converter
Convert imperial lengths into centimeters for projects, homework, and travel.
Results
- Centimeters
- 25.40 cm
How to use this calculator
- Enter a length in inches, including decimals if needed.
- We multiply by 2.54 to convert to centimeters.
- Review the centimeters result and round or format it according to your project’s precision requirements.
Inputs explained
- Inches
- The imperial length you want to convert to centimeters. You can enter decimal inches directly (for example, 5.25 in) or convert feet-and-inches to decimal inches first.
How it works
We take the length you enter in inches, which can be a whole number or decimal (for example, 10 or 5.5).
We multiply that value by 2.54, the exact metric definition of an inch, to convert to centimeters.
Internally, we keep full precision based on the exact 2.54 factor, then round the displayed result to a sensible number of decimal places.
Formula
Centimeters = Inches × 2.54
When to use it
- Converting furniture or clothing sizes measured in inches to centimeters for international shopping or metric spec sheets.
- Translating DIY or woodworking measurements into centimeters when your tools, plans, or materials are in metric units.
- Completing homework, lab assignments, or engineering problems that require metric measurements starting from imperial data.
- Checking travel luggage sizes or personal-item dimensions when airline rules are listed in centimeters.
Tips & cautions
- Remember that 2.54 cm per inch is exact by international agreement, so any small differences you see are purely from rounding in display.
- For feet and inches, convert feet to inches (feet × 12) and add the remaining inches before using this converter.
- Match your rounding to your project: nearest millimeter for carpentry, more decimal places for machining or precise lab work.
- If you often need the reverse direction, pair this with the centimeters to inches converter for quick back-and-forth checks.
- Converts inches to centimeters only; it does not directly provide meters, millimeters, or feet-and-inches output.
- Displays rounded decimal centimeters; if you need extremely high precision, consider keeping more decimal places when copying results.
Worked examples
5.5-inch phone screen width
- Inches = 5.5.
- Centimeters = 5.5 × 2.54 = 13.97 cm.
- Interpretation: you can list the width as approximately 14.0 cm on metric spec sheets.
Deep dive
This inches to cm converter multiplies inches by 2.54 for exact metric lengths—ideal for shopping, travel, DIY, and homework.
Enter inches to get centimeters instantly using the exact international definition of 1 in = 2.54 cm.
Great for anyone who needs fast, accurate inch-to-centimeter conversions without memorizing formulas.
FAQs
- Is 2.54 cm per inch an exact value?
- Yes. By international agreement, one inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters, so the conversion is precise before any rounding.
- How do I convert feet and inches to centimeters?
- First convert the entire measurement to inches (feet × 12 + inches), then multiply that total by 2.54 to get centimeters.
- How much rounding do I need?
- For most household and DIY uses, two decimal places or even one decimal place in centimeters is enough. For engineering, machining, or lab work, keep more decimals or match the required tolerance on your drawings.
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This inches to centimeters converter uses the exact inch‑to‑cm definition but displays rounded results for readability. Always match your rounding and precision to the requirements of your project, especially for engineering drawings, machining, or safety‑critical measurements.