Inches to Centimeters (in to cm)
Convert package dimensions from inches to centimeters. One inch is 2.54 centimeters.
1 in = 2.54 cm
centimeters (cm)
Quick reference
How to convert inches to centimeters
To convert inches to centimeters, multiply by the conversion factor:
In freight, this conversion comes up whenever your paperwork, carrier, or marketplace quotes volume or weight in different units than you measured. Getting it right keeps your dimensions and volume consistent across every quote.
2.54 exactly — the cleanest conversion in freight
The inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 cm since the 1959 international yard-and-pound agreement, so unlike most unit pairs there's no rounding decision to make: 48 in is 121.92 cm, full stop. Whatever precision your measurement has, the conversion adds no error of its own.
That exactness is why dimension paperwork can round-trip safely: convert inches to centimeters for an international booking, convert back, and you recover the original figure — something lossy factors like kg↔lb don't quite do at short precision.
Pallet dimensions both ways — and where cm feeds volumetric weight
The standard US GMA pallet of 48 × 40 in is 121.92 × 101.6 cm on international paperwork. Stack it to 65 in overall (165.1 cm) and its volume works out to 1.2192 × 1.016 × 1.651 = 2.045 m³ — the figure an air forwarder will divide by 6,000 cm³/kg to get roughly 341 kg of volumetric weight.
International carriers ask for centimeters precisely because their volumetric formulas are cm-based. Measuring in inches and converting per-dimension (not converting the final volume) matches how the carrier will re-measure your freight at the warehouse.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert inches to centimeters?
Multiply the number of inches by 2.54 to get centimeters. For example, 10 in = 25.4 cm.
How many centimeters are in one inche?
One in equals 2.54 cm.
Is inches to cm the same conversion?
Yes — inches to cm, in to cm all refer to converting inches to centimeters. The calculator above handles it instantly.
Is 1 inch exactly 2.54 cm?
Yes — exactly, by international definition since 1959. So conversions like 48 in = 121.92 cm and 40 in = 101.6 cm are exact values, not approximations.
What is a Euro pallet in inches?
A Euro pallet (EUR/EPAL) is 1,200 × 800 mm, which converts to 47.24 × 31.50 in — slightly narrower and shorter than the 48 × 40 in US standard pallet, which matters when racking or containers are planned around one footprint.