Centimeter to Inch

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Result

0.3937

in

Conversion rate: 1 cm = 0.3937 in

Showing up to 4 decimal

How it works

The converter uses exact SI-based factors (e.g., 1 foot = 0.3048 meters, 1 inch = 0.0254 meters).

Formula: inchs = centimeter × 0.3937

Results show between 0 and 8 decimal places and hide trailing zeros for readability.

Conversion Table

Centimeter Inch
0.001 cm 0.0004 in
0.01 cm 0.0039 in
0.1 cm 0.0394 in
1 cm 0.3937 in
10 cm 3.937 in
100 cm 39.3701 in
1000 cm 393.7008 in

History

Centimeter (cm)

The centimeter, abbreviated as cm, represents one hundredth of a meter and is a key metric unit. It originated in France during the 1790s as part of the effort to create a unified and logical measurement system. Because of its practicality for measuring smaller items, body dimensions, and crafts, the centimeter quickly found widespread use. Although centimeters are used in daily life around the world, meters are more common in scientific settings for the sake of clarity and accuracy. Centimeters are especially important in engineering, architecture, and healthcare, where detailed measurements matter. Its straightforward nature and role in the metric system have made it a standard measurement unit worldwide.

Inch (in)

The inch, abbreviated as in, is a length unit in the imperial and US customary systems. Its history reaches back to ancient civilizations, including the Romans, Egyptians, and Anglo-Saxons. Originally, the inch was determined by the width of a human thumb, but it was eventually set as 1/12 of a foot. Since 1959, the inch has been officially defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters due to an international agreement. Inches are still widely used in the United States, Canada, and the UK, especially for construction, manufacturing, and personal measurements. Even with the global shift to metric units, the inch remains important in certain fields such as technical drawings, screen dimensions, and household tools.

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