More recently, the size of the items along with millimeters and centimeters was taken to represent inches and feet. Today with inch designations also have to face quite often. For example, usually indicated in inches screen size in the specifications of the technical devices. This can be a TV, laptop, tablet or smartphone. And though most of us roughly imagine what is the difference between monitors 5 and 14 inches, in some cases it is necessary to know exactly how inches are converted to centimeters.

How many centimeters fit in one inch?



In the old days, smaller items were made to measure the finger, so in Britain he caught a measure of one inch, which is approximately equal to the width of the thumb of an adult male.


Since 1958, the English and American inch is officially equated to the value in 2.54 cm Therefore, in order to know how many centimeters accommodates a specified number of inches, you will need to make a simple calculation – multiply the size in inches by the factor 2.54.

A little harder to translate to centimeters, the specific parameters shown in inches. For example, the inch thread, the diameter of plumbing pipes, the size of the keys. In this case, you will need to use a calculator, or memorize the most popular values. Usually the manufacturer specifies the pipe diameter in: 3/4, 5/16 or 1/4 inch. To find out how you can check the size in centimeters, you need the 2.54 value multiplied by the specified amount.

However, it is worth noting that the traditional designation of pipe diameter in inches almost always does not match the recalculated value, in centimeters. Therefore, for accurate determination of the real diameter of the pipes in metric units, it is best to use a reference table.

Measuring devices



It is most convenient to translate the inches to centimeters using a variety of measuring devices. Today, there are rulers, measuring tape and tape measure that show the size of the object, in inches and in centimeters. On the one hand, this line indicates the centimeters and millimeters, and with another – inches, and feet. By means of such a measuring tool to accurately determine what is equal to the length or width of the object in the desired units.

Today the International society of Metrology advises manufacturers and large enterprises use metric designations instead of the inch in all cases when possible.