Type in either field — conversion updates instantly in both directions.
To convert inches to centimeters, multiply by 2.54. So 6 inches = 15.24 cm, 12 inches (1 foot) = 30.48 cm, and 72 inches (6 feet) = 182.88 cm. Because 2.54 is exact, this conversion is always precise with no rounding error in the factor itself.
Height is the most common context for this conversion. In North America, height is given in feet and inches (5'9"), while most of the world uses centimeters (175 cm). European passport applications, medical forms, and sports registrations request height in cm, causing Americans to convert regularly.
Did you know? The exact value of 1 inch = 2.54 cm was internationally agreed in 1959 at the International Yard and Pound Agreement, signed by the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Before that, the US and UK used slightly different inch values.
European furniture and interior design plans specify dimensions in centimeters. Medical records outside the US record patient height in cm. Importing US-made products into Europe requires centimeter dimensions for import documentation. Buying jeans from a European brand requires converting your inch waist measurement to centimeters.