How to Convert Millimeters to Inches

Method 1 of 2:

Converting Millimeters to Inches

Image titled Convert Millimeters to Inches Step 1

Learn the conversion factor. One inch is the same length as 25.4 millimeters.[2] You can write
this "conversion factor" as a fraction: {\displaystyle {\frac {1inch}{25.4mm}}}{\frac
{1inch}{25.4mm}}.

Any two units have a special conversion factor for converting between them. If you don't know
what it is, you can look it up online or in a textbook.

Image titled Convert Millimeters to Inches Step 2

Understand the conversion factor. The top and bottom of the fraction are the same length, just
written in different units. This means the fraction is equal to 1, just like the fractions
{\displaystyle {\frac {3}{3}}}{\frac {3}{3}} or {\displaystyle {\frac {8}{8}}}{\frac {8}{8}} simplify to
1.

Remember, multiplying a number by 1 doesn't change its value. That means you can multiply
your measurement by this factor and the length will be the same. The only difference is the
units: your answer will be written in inches instead of millimeters.[3]

Image titled Convert Millimeters to Inches Step 3

Write down the multiplication problem. Make sure to write down all units in your measurement.
For example, here's what you would write down to convert 16 millimeters (mm) into inches (in):

16 mm x {\displaystyle {\frac {1in}{25.4mm}}}{\frac {1in}{25.4mm}} = ?

Image titled Convert Millimeters to Inches Step 4

Cancel out the units. If the same unit appears on the top and bottom of a fraction, they cancel
out. If you've set up your problem correctly, the millimeters will cancel out and you'll be left with
just inches.

16 mm x {\displaystyle {\frac {1in}{25.4mm}}}{\frac {1in}{25.4mm}} = ?

Cancel out the millimeters:

16 x {\displaystyle {\frac {1in}{25.4}}}{\frac {1in}{25.4}} = ?

Since the only unit left is inches, your answer will be in inches.

Image titled Convert Millimeters to Inches Step 5

Solve the problem. Finish the math problem by hand or on a calculator.

16 x {\displaystyle {\frac {1in}{25.4}}}{\frac {1in}{25.4}}

= 16 in ÷ 25.4

= about 0.63 inches

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Method 2 of 2:

Estimating in Your Head

Image titled Convert Millimeters to Inches Step 6

Memorize useful conversions. If you can remember that 1 mm = {\displaystyle {\frac

{1}{25.4}}}{\frac {1}{25.4}} inches, that's great. But this conversion doesn't come up very often.
It's more useful to memorize these common conversions:[4]

1 cm = about 0.4 inches

1 cm = 10 mm

1 inch = exactly 2.54 cm (you don't need this for this conversion, but it's a good one to know)

Image titled Convert Millimeters to Inches Step 7

Convert millimeters to centimeters. This is easy to do in your head. Just divide the millimeter
measurement by 10. All you have to do is move the decimal point one digit to the left. If you're
not sure why this works, look at this example:

430 mm

= 430 mm x {\displaystyle {\frac {1cm}{10mm}}}{\frac {1cm}{10mm}}

= 43 cm.

Image titled Convert Millimeters to Inches Step 8

Estimate the centimeter to inch conversion. The 1 cm = 0.4 in is close enough for most
purposes. But how do you multiply by 0.4 in your head? Here are two different ways to do it,
continuing with the same example:

Divide by two, then subtract 1/10 of the cm value:

43 cm ÷ 2 = 21.5

→ 1/10 of 43 is 4.3
→ subtract the second number from the first: 21.5 - 4.3 = 17.2 in.
Or divide by ten, then multiply by four:

43 cm ÷ 10 = 4.3

→ 4.3 x 4 = (4 x 4) + (0.3 x 4) = 16 + 1.2 = 17.2 in.

4

Understand that this is an estimate. Learning how to do this will come in handy for quick real-life
estimates, where the exact answer is usually not important. It's not a good idea for homework
problems that require an exact answer, but you can use it to double check your answer and
make sure it's in the right ballpark.

In the example, the exact answer is actually 16.921 inches. The estimate is less than a third of
an inch off, which is pretty good for mental math.

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Community Q&A

Question

What is the formula for 15.9mm = 5/8 inch?

Donagan

Donagan

Top Answerer

There are 25.4 millimeters in one inch. 25.4 mm multiplied by 5/8 = 15.875 mm. Proceeding in
the other direction, 15.875 mm ÷ 25.4 = 0.625 in, which is 5/8 of an inch.
Not Helpful 3 Helpful 20

Question

What is 2" equal to in mm?

Donagan

Donagan

Top Answerer

Each inch equals 25.4 millimeters.

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 8

Question

Is .31 mm equal to 5/16 inch?

Donagan

Donagan

Top Answerer

No. One millimeter equals 0.03937 inch, so multiply 0.03937 by 0.31. It's much less than 1/16 of
an inch.

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 11

Question

How many feet are in a mile?

Community Answer

Community Answer

There are 5,280 feet in a mile.

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 10

Question

Is 12 mm = to 1/4 inch?

Donagan

Donagan
Top Answerer

12 mm is equal to almost half an inch (0.47 inch).

Not Helpful 5 Helpful 10

Question

I need to know how large is 20 mm wide x 26 mm long in comparison to a penny or dime?

Donagan

Donagan

Top Answerer

A dime is about 18 mm in diameter; a penny is about 19 mm.

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 8

Question

What are micrometers in relation to millimeters?

Donagan

Donagan

Top Answerer

There are 1,000 micrometers in one millimeter.

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6

Question

What is 80 cm x 120 cm in inches?

Donagan

Donagan

Top Answerer

80 x 120 = 9,600 square centimeters. Divide that by 6.45 to get 1,488.37 square inches.

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 1

Question

Is 5 mm equal to 3/8 inch?

Donagan

Donagan

Top Answerer

No. Since there are 25.4 mm in an inch, 5 mm is slightly less than 1/5 of an inch (which is less
than half of 3/8 of an inch).

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2

Question

7/8 inch = how many mm?

Donagan

Donagan

Top Answerer

Since one inch equals 25.4 mm, 7/8 of an inch equals (7/8)(25.4) = 22.225 mm.

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1

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Tips

If you're measuring an area, you'll need to convert from square millimeters (mm2) to square
inches (in2). To do this, multiply by {\displaystyle {\frac {1in^{2}}{645mm^{2}}}}{\frac
{1in^{2}}{645mm^{2}}} (or {\displaystyle {\frac {1in^{2}}{645.16mm^{2}}}}{\frac
{1in^{2}}{645.16mm^{2}}} if your measurement is very precise). Note that 645.16 = 25.42.

Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

For volume measurements, convert from cubic millimeters (mm3) to cubic inches (in3). Multiply
by {\displaystyle {\frac {1in^{3}}{15800mm^{3}}}}{\frac {1in^{3}}{15800mm^{3}}}, or by
{\displaystyle {\frac {1in^{3}}{15806.42mm^{3}}}}{\frac {1in^{3}}{15806.42mm^{3}}} for an exact
answer. Note that 15806.42 = 25.43.
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Some guides will tell you to multiply by 0.0393701 instead.[5] This will work as well, since
{\displaystyle {\frac {1in}{25.4mm}}}{\frac {1in}{25.4mm}} = 0.0393701 in/mm.

Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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References

↑https://socratic.org/questions/what-is-a-conversion-factor-2
↑http://www.indiana.edu/~p1013447/dictionary/units.htm
↑https://www.purplemath.com/modules/units.htm
↑https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/reference/metrics/factors.htm
↑https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms437/mapping/map-and-field-measurements
About This Article

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Co-authored by:

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This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for
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meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 171,877 times.
66 votes - 68%

Co-authors: 20

Updated: April 19, 2019

Views: 171,877

Categories: Conversion Aids

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