4 Easy Ways To Measure Centimeters (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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How to Measure Centimeters Download Article Explore this Article methods 1 Using a Ruler to Measure 2 Estimating Centimeters Using Objects 3 Converting Metric Units to Centimeters 4 Converting U.S. Standard Units to Centimeters + Show 1 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Related Articles Expert Interview References Article Summary Co-authored by Joseph Quinones

Last Updated: June 7, 2025 Fact Checked

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This article was co-authored by Joseph Quinones. Joseph Quinones is a Physics Teacher working at South Bronx Community Charter High School. Joseph specializes in astronomy and astrophysics and is interested in science education and science outreach, currently practicing ways to make physics accessible to more students with the goal of bringing more students of color into the STEM fields. He has experience working on Astrophysics research projects at the Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Joseph recieved his Bachelor's degree in Physics from Lehman College and his Masters in Physics Education from City College of New York (CCNY). He is also a member of a network called New York City Men Teach. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,007,293 times.

Centimeters are a metric unit of measurement. You can use most rulers to measure centimeters. It is important, however, to ensure that you are looking at the correct units, as many rulers also show inches. If you don’t have a ruler, you can use common objects you have in your desk to estimate a measurement in centimeters. You can also convert other units of measurement to centimeters.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 4:

Using a Ruler to Measure

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1. 1 Locate the centimeters on the ruler. Many rulers have two sets of numbers. You are looking for the metric set of numbers. This side of the ruler will be labeled c m {\displaystyle cm} , the abbreviation for centimeters.[1] It might also be labeled m m {\displaystyle mm} , the abbreviation for millimeters.
   • Millimeters are the smaller metric units shown on the ruler by the shorter lines in between the centimeters.[2]
   • The other side of the ruler is the standard side of the ruler. It will show inches, which is the standard U.S. unit.
2. 2 Understand the relationship between a millimeter and a centimeter. If you look closely at your ruler, you will see that each centimeter is divided into 10 parts by the shorter lines.[3] A millimeter is one-tenth of a centimeter.[4]
   • Note that 1 mm = 0.1 cm.
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3. 3 Align the edge of the object with the first centimeter line on the ruler. Note that the edge of the physical ruler often does not align with the beginning of the first centimeter. So take care to align the object to the first line, not to the edge of the ruler.[5]
   • Keep the ruler as flat against the measured side of the object as possible.
4. 4 Find the length in whole centimeters. Look at the other edge of the object. Identify the nearest mark to that edge. This mark will tell you how long the object is.
   • If the edge falls on a longer centimeter line marked with a whole number, the object is that many centimeters long. For example, if the edge of an eraser ends at the line marked 7, the eraser is 7 cm long.
   • If you are measuring to the nearest centimeter, look for the nearest line to the edge of the object that is marked with a number. This mark will tell you the nearest centimeter. For example, an eraser might fall less than halfway between the 7 and 8 cm marks. Since the eraser ends closer to the 7 cm mark, you would say that, to the nearest centimeter, the eraser is 7 centimeters long.
5. 5 Find the length to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. Look at the last whole centimeter the edge of the object passes. Then, count the number of millimeters past the last whole centimeter that the object’s edge goes. Each millimeter is one-tenth of a centimeter. So, to find the length, combine the number of whole centimeters and tenths of a centimeter.[6]
   • For example, if the edge of an eraser ends 1 millimeter past 7 centimeters, the eraser is 7.1 centimeters long.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 4:

Estimating Centimeters Using Objects

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1. 1 Note a few objects that are roughly 1 cm wide. If you do not have a ruler but you need a rough estimate of an object's length in centimeters, you can use any object that is known to have a width that roughly equals one centimeter.
   • The easiest objects to use are a standard pencil, pen, or highlighter. The width of a pencil is close to 1 cm.
   • Other options include the length of a staple, the width of five CDs or DVDs stacked together, the thickness of a standard notepad, and the radius of a U.S. penny.[7]
2. 2 Place the object you are measuring on a sheet of paper. Make sure that the entire item fits on the paper. Mark its starting edge with a pencil or pen.
   • The paper needs to be light in color so that you can clearly see the marks being made.
3. 3 Place the measuring object at the starting edge. Line up one edge of your measuring object with the starting edge of the item you are measuring.
   • For example, if you are using the width of a pencil to estimate centimeters, place the pencil perpendicular to the item being measured, so that its eraser or unsharpened point lies flat against the edge being measured. One side of the pencil should be flush against the starting edge of the measured item.
4. 4 Mark the opposite edge of the measuring object. Being careful not to move it, make a small mark against the inside edge of the measuring object with a pencil or pen.
5. 5 Shift the position of the measuring object. Pick up the measuring object and re-position it so that its opposite edge now lies on the mark previously created. Make another mark on the inside edge of the measuring object.
   • Make sure that the measuring object is flat against the side of the item being measured each time you shift its position. The item being measured must remain in the same position the entire time.
6. 6 Repeat this process. Keep marking the inside edge of the measuring object until you reach the end of the item being measured. Also make sure that the ending edge is marked.
7. 7 Count the gaps. When finished, lift away the measuring object and the item being measured. Count the number of gaps or spaces in between your marks. This number is a rough estimate of the number of centimeters your measured item equals.
   • It is important that you count the gaps and not the lines/marks.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 4:

Converting Metric Units to Centimeters

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1. 1 Convert millimeters to centimeters. There are 10 millimeters in 1 centimeter. To convert millimeters to centimeters, you need to divide the number of millimeters by 10.[8] [9]
   • For example, to convert 583 millimeters to centimeters, you would calculate 583 10 = 58.3 {\displaystyle {\frac {583}{10}}=58.3} . So, 583 millimeters converts to 58.3 centimeters.
2. 2 Convert meters to centimeters. There are 100 centimeters in 1 meter. To convert meters to centimeters, multiply the number of meters by 100.[10]
   • For example, to convert 5.1 meters to centimeters, you would calculate 5.1 × 100 = 510 {\displaystyle 5.1\times 100=510} So, 5.1 meters = 510 centimeters.
3. 3 Convert kilometers to centimeters. There are 100,000 centimeters in a kilometer.[11] To convert kilometers to centimeters, multiply the original measurement by 100,000.
   • For example, to convert 2.78 kilometers to centimeters, you would calculate 2.78 × 100 , 000 = 278 , 000 {\displaystyle 2.78\times 100,000=278,000} . So, 2.78 kilometers is the same distance as 278,000 centimeters.
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Method 4 Method 4 of 4:

Converting U.S. Standard Units to Centimeters

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1. 1 Convert inches to centimeters. In 1 inch there are 2.54 centimeters.[12] To convert inches to centimeters, multiply the number of inches by 2.54.[13]
   • For example, to convert 9.41 inches to centimeters, you would calculate 9.41 × 2.54 = 23.9 {\displaystyle 9.41\times 2.54=23.9} . Thus, 9.41 inches is the same length as 23.9 centimeters.
2. 2 Convert feet to centimeters. In 1 foot there are 30.48 centimeters. So, to convert feet to centimeters, multiply the number of feet by 30.48.[14]
   • For example, to convert 7.2 feet to centimeters, you would calculate 7.2 × 30.48 = 219.46 {\displaystyle 7.2\times 30.48=219.46} . So, 7.2 feet is equivalent to 219.46 centimeters.
3. 3 Convert yards to centimeters. A yard is 3 feet. Since there are 30.48 centimeters in 1 foot, the amount of centimeters in a yard is triple that: 91.44. To convert yards to centimeters, multiply the number of yards by 91.44.[15]
   • For example, to convert 3.51 yards to centimeters, you would calculate 3.51 × 91.44 = 320.96 {\displaystyle 3.51\times 91.44=320.96} . So, 3.51 yards is the same length as 320.96 centimeters.
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• Question 0.5 cm equates to what in inches? Donagan Top Answerer Multiply by 0.3937. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 24
• Question What part of 1 inch is 1 centimeter? Donagan Top Answerer One centimeter is roughly 2/5 of an inch. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 18 Helpful 25
• Question How many centimeters are in 30 square meters? Donagan Top Answerer There are 10,000 square centimeters in one square meter. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 12

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Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about physics, check out our in-depth interview with Joseph Quinones.

References

1. ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/ruler.html
2. ↑ https://www.virtualnerd.com/middle-math/measurement/metric-system/measure-ruler-millimeters
3. ↑ Joseph Quinones. Physics Teacher. Expert Interview
4. ↑ https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-fourth-grade-math/imp-measurement-and-data-2/imp-converting-units-of-length/a/metric-units-of-length-review
5. ↑ https://youtu.be/iGQjDLWdk0M?t=61
6. ↑ https://youtu.be/iGQjDLWdk0M?t=73
7. ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/measure/metric-length.html
8. ↑ https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/length/mm-to-cm.html
9. ↑ Joseph Quinones. Physics Teacher. Expert Interview

More References (6)

10. ↑ https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/length/meter-to-cm.html
11. ↑ https://www.metric-conversions.org/length/centimeters-to-kilometers.htm
12. ↑ https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/length/how-many-cm-in-inch.html
13. ↑ Joseph Quinones. Physics Teacher. Expert Interview
14. ↑ https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/length/feet-to-cm.html
15. ↑ https://www.inchcalculator.com/convert/yard-to-centimeter/

About This Article

Co-authored by: Joseph Quinones Physics Teacher This article was co-authored by Joseph Quinones. Joseph Quinones is a Physics Teacher working at South Bronx Community Charter High School. Joseph specializes in astronomy and astrophysics and is interested in science education and science outreach, currently practicing ways to make physics accessible to more students with the goal of bringing more students of color into the STEM fields. He has experience working on Astrophysics research projects at the Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Joseph recieved his Bachelor's degree in Physics from Lehman College and his Masters in Physics Education from City College of New York (CCNY). He is also a member of a network called New York City Men Teach. This article has been viewed 1,007,293 times. 31 votes - 62% Co-authors: 13 Updated: June 7, 2025 Views: 1,007,293 Categories: Mathematics | Measuring and Marking Tools Article SummaryX

To measure centimeters, use a ruler with the side marked either cm or mm. Align the edge of the object with the first centimeter line on the ruler, then find the length in whole centimeters, or the larger numbers on the ruler. If the measurement isn’t exact, count the number of millimeters, or the smaller lines on the ruler, past the largest whole centimeter. Each millimeter is a tenth of a centimeter. If you need to estimate centimeters using objects, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Joseph Quinones Physics Teacher 31 votes - 62% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 13 Updated: June 7, 2025 Views: 1,007,293

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