Conversion table inch to cm and mm

How big is an inch?

Do you often see measurements in inches on your metal or wire products and wonder what they correspond to in millimeters? This guide explains everything, and the conversion chart will help you with every order!

What is an inch?

The inch is a unit of length dating back to the Middle Ages that corresponded to the length of a thumb. Although this measurement system has been phased out in many countries.

Today, the inch is still in use in several English-speaking countries, notably:

• the United States
• the United Kingdom
• Canada

It is a measurement used for the diameter of wires, such as metal wires and cable wires—particularly by American brands like Soft Flex, Beadalon, or Artistic Wire—as well as for screen sizes, printer resolutions, and the sizes of certain clothing items, such as jeans. It is abbreviated with the symbol '' (double prime) or the two letters "in." You may also have seen it written as " inches"; this is simply the plural form of "inch."

How do you convert inches to mm?

The formula is simple:

• 1 inch = 25.40 mm = 2.54 cm

To convert any measurement, simply multiply by 2.54 (to get centimeters) or by 25.4 (to get millimeters).
Example: a wire measuring 0.019 inches × 25.4 = 0.48 mm

Inch to mm and cm Conversion Table

Real-world examples using our wires

To better understand how to use this chart in your projects, here are a few examples taken directly from our catalog:

• The Soft Flex Extreme Medium cable wire is a 304 stainless steel wire measuring 0.019 inches, or 0.48 mm.
• This flexible round Gold Filled wire has a diameter of 0.0507 inches, or 1.29 mm.
• This round 316L stainless steel wire, 0.032 inches in diameter, is 0.81 mm in diameter.

Inches and gauge: two systems, one logic

If you work with American wires, you’ll often see these two units side by side:

• Gauge (AWG) indicates the wire’s size (the higher the number, the thinner the wire).
• Inches indicate the actual diameter in inches.

Both can be converted to millimeters: see our gauge-to-mm conversion chart to easily navigate between the two systems.

And if you’re wondering how to choose the right diameter for a stranded wire for your project, our guide on how to choose the diameter of a stranded wire will help you understand it even better.