March 28, 20263 min read

Inches to CM Converter — Quick Reference Table 1–36 Inches

Convert inches to centimeters instantly. Includes a full 1–36 inch reference table, the exact formula, and reverse cm-to-inch examples.

inches to cm unit conversion length converter metric imperial calchub

One inch equals exactly 2.54 centimeters — that's been the official definition since 1959. Whether you're reading a TV screen spec, measuring for curtains, or decoding a US clothing tag, that single number is all you need.

Use the CalcHub inches to cm converter to get instant results, or grab the table below for quick lookups without touching a calculator.

The Formula

centimeters = inches × 2.54

Going the other way:

inches = centimeters ÷ 2.54

Example: 12 inches → 12 × 2.54 = 30.48 cm

Quick Reference Table — 1 to 36 Inches

Inches	CM	Inches	CM	Inches	CM
1	2.54	13	33.02	25	63.50
2	5.08	14	35.56	26	66.04
3	7.62	15	38.10	27	68.58
4	10.16	16	40.64	28	71.12
5	12.70	17	43.18	29	73.66
6	15.24	18	45.72	30	76.20
7	17.78	19	48.26	31	78.74
8	20.32	20	50.80	32	81.28
9	22.86	21	53.34	33	83.82
10	25.40	22	55.88	34	86.36
11	27.94	23	58.42	35	88.90
12	30.48	24	60.96	36	91.44

Practical Uses

Screen sizes: A "32-inch TV" measures 32 inches diagonally — that's 81.28 cm. Useful when comparing with European or Indian specifications listed in cm. Clothing & tailoring: US dress shirts list sleeve length in inches. A 33-inch sleeve is about 83.8 cm — handy if your tailor works in metric. DIY & construction: US lumber dimensions (2×4, 2×6) are in inches. 2 inches = 5.08 cm, 4 inches = 10.16 cm. Shoe sizes: US sizes often reference last length in inches. A 10-inch foot = 25.4 cm.

Fractions of an Inch

Fractional inches come up constantly in woodworking and sewing. Here are the common ones:

Fraction	Decimal Inches	CM
1/8	0.125	0.318
1/4	0.25	0.635
3/8	0.375	0.953
1/2	0.50	1.270
5/8	0.625	1.588
3/4	0.75	1.905

How many cm is 5 inches?

5 × 2.54 = 12.70 cm. That's roughly the length of a standard pencil eraser end to the tip.

Is 1 inch exactly 2.54 cm?

Yes, exactly. The international inch has been defined as 2.54 cm since the International Yard and Pound Agreement of 1959. It's not an approximation.

How do I convert cm back to inches?

Divide by 2.54. So 100 cm ÷ 2.54 = 39.37 inches. A meter is just under 40 inches.

CM to Inches Converter — reverse lookup
Feet to Meters Converter — for longer distances
MM to Inches Converter — precision engineering measurements