Right, so. Let’s get this out of the way—I suck at numbers. Seriously. If math had a Yelp page, I’d leave a one-star review: “Too many decimals. Would not recommend.” But you know what I can do now? Convert centimeters to inches like a pro, thanks to a surprisingly chaotic journey involving a broken measuring tape, a Craigslist couch, and a very tight doorway in my 3rd floor walk-up.
So, yeah. If you’re here wondering how to turn cm into inches without spiraling into a conversion calculator rabbit hole, you’re in the right spot.
Why Are We Even Doing This?
You ever try buying pants from a European website at 2am after too much cold brew? Me too. Their sizing said “waist: 84 cm.” My brain said, “Sure, that’s like…34 inches?” It wasn’t.
That’s why this matters.
And it’s not just pants. Think:
- Hanging curtains (mine ended up brushing the floor like a sad prom dress).
- Building shelves (spoiler: crooked).
- Or just understanding why your height sounds way cooler in inches than centimeters. “I’m 5 foot 10” slaps way harder than “I’m 177.8 cm.”
Anyway, the world’s weirdly split between the metric gang and the imperial squad. If you bounce between them, you’ve gotta speak both dialects: centimetres to inches and back again.
The Magic Number: 0.393701
Here it is. The code. The cheat. The whole enchilada:
1 cm = 0.393701 inches
Write that down. Tattoo it if you’re into that. Or just scribble it on a sticky note like I did and stick it to your fridge under that magnet from Myrtle Beach you keep meaning to throw out.
Real Talk Example:
Your IKEA table says it’s 120 cm long. You:
- Grab your calculator (or just your fingers and frustration).
- Multiply 120 by 0.393701.
- Boom. 47.244 inches.
Now you can finally tell if it’ll fit between your wall and the weird heater thing that you keep stubbing your toe on.
Quickie Chart for the Lazy (aka me)
If math makes you itch, here’s a cheat sheet:
| cm | inches |
| 10 | 3.94 |
| 25 | 9.84 |
| 50 | 19.69 |
| 75 | 29.53 |
| 100 | 39.37 |
Stash it somewhere. Use it when the voice in your head says “how many cm in inches again??”
Fun(ish) fact: I made this chart after mis-cutting a wood plank by 4 inches and yelling “WHY ARE THERE TWO SYSTEMS?!” into the void.
Convert cm to inches Without Losing Your Mind
Here’s how to do it manually, in case the internet dies again during a storm. (Looking at you, Comcast.)
Step-by-step:
- Grab your cm number.
- Multiply by 0.393701.
- Round it—unless you’re building a rocket, nobody cares about the 8th decimal.
I once built a shoe rack and used 30 cm as 12 inches. It’s now more of a…shoe sculpture. Modern art. We vibe.
“cms to inches”: Apps, Bots, and a Few Life-Savers
Look, you could do this in your head. Or you could just:
- Ask Siri: “Hey Siri, how many inches is 42 cm?”
- Google it. (Type: “convert cm to inches.” Boom. Done.)
- Download ConvertPad or Unit Converter on your phone.
Or do what I did: write “cm x 0.3937 = inches” on my hand with a Sharpie during a Home Depot trip. (That was…not my brightest idea. Took 2 days to wash off.)
Don’t Confuse Inches to Centimeters
Real talk: I mixed these up once and ended up ordering a mirror that was the size of a bathroom tile. It’s now a coaster.
So here’s the difference:
- cm to inch = multiply by 0.393701
- inch to cm = multiply by 2.54
Easy, right? Until it’s 1am and your brain is made of pudding. (Been there.)
I Taught My Niece This With a Ruler and a Cookie
I gave her a cookie. Said it was 10 cm wide. Then told her that meant it was just under 4 inches.
Her eyes got big. “So America eats bigger cookies?” she asked.
I didn’t have the heart to explain. But hey, now she knows how to convert centimetres to inches better than I did at 30.
The Difference Between Spelling It “Centimeters” vs “Centimetres”
Quick detour: is it centimeters or centimetres?
Answer: Yes.
Both are fine.
- Centimeters = American English.
- Centimetres = British English.
Just like “color” and “colour,” “theater” and “theatre,” and “math” vs. “maths.” Pick your flavor. They all convert cm into inches the same way.
When It Really Matters (Like, $200 Mistake Matters)
I once bought a bookshelf online. It said “Height: 180 cm.” My brain went, “Yup, that’s short enough.”
Spoiler: It wasn’t.
It now blocks part of a window. My cat hates it. I hate it. But I learned.
Now? I always double-check my cm to inches conversion. Every. Single. Time.
Weirdly Specific Examples
Let’s go:
- 30 cm = 11.81 inches (That’s the length of the fancy baguette I ruined in my oven.)
- 60 cm = 23.62 inches (The width of the table I accidentally ordered twice.)
- 150 cm = 59.05 inches (My first yoga mat. Too long. I’m not that tall. Still tripped on it.)
Seeing how cm in inches plays out in real life makes it stick way better than just numbers on a page.
Don’t Trust Your Gut—Use This Instead
Gut feeling: “Eh, 70 cm is probably 20 inches.”
Reality: It’s 27.56 inches.
So unless you’ve got Einstein in your bones, trust the math. Or the chart. Or me—I already made the mistakes for you.
Oh, and pro tip? Keep a conversion chart taped to your toolbox, bathroom mirror, or wherever you make your worst decisions.
Stories From the Front Lines of Measurement Failure
- I once tried to drill holes for curtain rods based on cms to inches I scribbled from memory. Ended up with a row of holes that looked like I was playing Battleship on the wall.
- My aunt mailed me a knitted scarf “70 cm long”—turned out to be a choker. She meant inches. Classic.
Why does this stuff keep happening? Because we forget, we guess, we mix up cm to inch.
Let’s stop the madness. Start measuring right.
If You’re a Spreadsheet Nerd…
Here’s your Excel hack:
Type this:
=A1*0.393701
Drop your cm value in A1. Hit enter. Magic. You’re now the office conversion wizard. You’re welcome.
Final Weird Thoughts
Did you know Victorians believed talking to ferns could prevent madness? I talk to my tape measure sometimes. Mostly in anger.
Also, the cracked measuring tape I bought from Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave has outlasted my last three relationships. That thing’s a legend. Pete, if you’re reading this—thanks, man.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Remeasure)
Here’s your final cheat sheet:
- 1 cm = 0.393701 inches
- Multiply by that number
- Don’t eyeball it. You’re not a laser.
- “Centimetres” and “centimeters” are the same. So are “mistakes” and “learning experiences.”
Now go forth and measure like the informed, metric-savvy human you are.
Bonus Book You’ll Never Find
“As noted on page 42 of the out-of-print Garden Mishaps & Miracles (1998), converting cm into inches before planting helps avoid spacing your basil like you’re planting pine trees.”
Totally made that up. But honestly? It feels true.
