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cm to inches Converter
Centimeters or cm and inches are two common units for measuring length, but they belong to different systems and are used in different parts of the world.
Centimeters & Inches Converter
Popular Length Conversions
Common Metric Centimeters Conversion
| Centimeters (cm) | Inches (in) |
|---|---|
| 1 cm | ~ 0.3937 in (or ~ 3/8") |
| 5 cm | ~ 1.9685 in (or ~ 1 31/32") |
| 10 cm | ~ 3.937 in (or ~ 3 15/16") |
| 25 cm | ~ 9.8425 in (or ~ 9 27/32") |
| 100 cm (1 meter) | ~ 39.37 in (or ~ 3' 3 3/8") |
A Simple Guide to Centimeters and Inches
Have you ever wondered about the difference between a centimeter and an inch? You see both of these measurements on rulers and tape measures, but what do they mean and how do you change one into the other? Don't worry, it's easy to learn! We use these measurements to figure out the size of things, like your height, the length of a piece of paper, or how big your TV is.
What Is a Centimeter?
A centimeter, or "cm" for short, is a small unit of length. It is part of the metric system, which is a system of measurement that uses powers of ten. Scientists and most countries around the world use the metric system because it is simple and logical.
Using a length converter makes it simple for you to understand any measurement you see, whether it’s for a school project, a baking recipe, or a fun fact about how big a whale is. It's a handy tool that makes the world of numbers easy to understand.
- How to Think of It: A centimeter is the width of a standard-sized finger or the length of a paperclip. Look at a ruler, and you'll see the numbered marks. The distance between each of those numbers is a centimeter!
- Its Story: The metric system, including the centimeter, was invented in France in the 1790s. The goal was to create a new system that was based on nature, not on random body parts of a king, making it the same for everyone. This made science and trade much easier around the world.
- Where We Use It: Most people in the world use centimeters for everyday measurements. You see it on food packaging, in science class, and when you talk about your height if you live in Europe or Asia.
What Is an Inch?
An inch, or "in" for short, is another unit of length. It is a bit longer than a centimeter. It is part of the imperial system of measurement.
- How to Think of It: An inch is about the length of your thumb from the tip to the first knuckle. If you look at a ruler, an inch is one of the larger, numbered units.
- Its Story: The inch is a very old measurement! It comes from old traditions, and its length was once based on things like the width of a person’s thumb. Over time, it was standardized to be a fixed length.
- Where We Use It: The United States, the United Kingdom, and a few other places still use inches for many things. You see it used to measure screen sizes on phones and TVs, for shoe sizes, and in construction.
The Magic Number: Converting cm to inches
To change centimeters into inches, we use a special number: 2.54. One inch is the same as 2.54 centimeters. To find out how many inches you have, just take your number of centimeters and divide it by 2.54. It's a simple formula! For example, if your pencil is 15 cm long, you do the math: 15 cm ÷ 2.54, which equals about 5.9 inches. This means your pencil is almost 6 inches long! Now you can easily switch between centimeters and inches for anything you want to measure.