Inches to Meters Converter
Enter the length in inches below to convert it to meters.
Convert Inches to Meters
Enter a value in inches (in) to convert to meters (m).
Inches to Meters Conversion Chart (1–40 Continuous)
Continuous 1 to 40 inches lookup table with exact decimals and reduced nearest 1/64 fractions. Highlighted rows mark common shop and ruler values.
| Inches (in) | Decimal (m) | Fraction — Nearest 1/64 (Reduced) | Nearest 1/16 (Tape) |
|---|---|---|---|
1 in★ Common | 0.0254 m | 1/32 m | 0 m |
2 in★ Common | 0.0508 m | 3/64 m | 1/16 m |
3 in★ Common | 0.0762 m | 5/64 m | 1/16 m |
4 in | 0.1016 m | 7/64 m | 1/8 m |
5 in★ Common | 0.127 m | 1/8 m | 1/8 m |
6 in★ Common | 0.1524 m | 5/32 m | 1/8 m |
7 in | 0.1778 m | 11/64 m | 3/16 m |
8 in★ Common | 0.2032 m | 13/64 m | 3/16 m |
9 in | 0.2286 m | 15/64 m | 1/4 m |
10 in★ Common | 0.254 m | 1/4 m | 1/4 m |
11 in | 0.2794 m | 9/32 m | 1/4 m |
12 in★ Common | 0.3048 m | 5/16 m | 5/16 m |
How to Convert Inches to Meters
To convert inches to meters, multiply the length by the following conversion ratio: 0.0254 meters/inch.
Since one inch is equal to 0.0254 meters, you can use this simple formula to convert:
The length in meters is equal to the length in inches multiplied by 0.0254.
For example, here's how to convert 70 inches to meters using the formula above.
How Many Meters Are in an Inch?
There are 0.0254 meters in an inch, which is why we use this value in the formula above.
Our inch fraction and decimal calculator can convert inches and meters, and it automatically converts the results to US customary, imperial, and SI metric values.
Inches and meters are both units used to measure length. Keep reading to learn more about each unit.
How to Convert Inches to Fractional Inches (1/16″, 1/32″ & 1/64″)
Plain-language method for turning decimal inches into a standard tape-measure or machinist ruler fraction
Calculators give you a decimal number (such as 70 in), but tape measures and woodworking rulers are marked in binary fractions of an inch—most commonly 1/16″ on carpenter tapes, 1/32″ on fine woodworking rules, and 1/64″ on machinist scales.
Here is the step-by-step worked example for converting 70 inches (in) into fractional inches:
- Find the decimal inches result: Convert 70 in to inches to get 70 in.
- Separate the whole inches from the decimal part: Keep the whole number 70 aside, leaving the decimal remainder 0.
- Multiply the decimal part by your desired fraction denominator (16, 32, or 64) and round half up: Multiply 0 by 16, 32, or 64, then round to the nearest whole number (values ending in .5 round up).
- Reduce the fraction to lowest terms: If the rounded top number (numerator) is even, divide both top and bottom by 2 (or their Greatest Common Divisor) until the top number is odd, then combine with your whole inches.
What Is an Inch?
An inch is a unit of length equal to 1/12 of a foot or 1/36 of a yard. Because the international yard is legally defined as exactly 0.9144 meters under the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement, one inch equals exactly 2.54 centimeters (25.4 millimeters or 25,400,000 nanometers). [1]
The inch is a US customary and imperial unit of length. Inches can be abbreviated as in; for example, 1 inch can be written as 1 in.
Inches can also be denoted using the ″ symbol, otherwise known as a double prime. Often a double quote (") is used instead of a double prime for convenience. A double prime is commonly used to express 1 in as 1″.
The standard ruler is 12 inches long and is a common tool for measuring a length in inches. Another frequently used tool to perform measurements in inches is a tape measure, which commonly comes in lengths from 6' to 35'. Other devices used to measure in inches include scales, calipers, measuring wheels, micrometers, yardsticks, and even lasers.
What Is a Meter?
The meter (or metre) is the fundamental base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), officially defined by the BIPM as the length of the path traveled by light in a vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second. [2]
All metric units of length—from nanometers and millimeters to kilometers—are derived as decimal powers of the meter. Meters can be abbreviated as m; for example, 1 meter can be written as 1 m.
One meter is equal to 100 centimeters, 1,000 millimeters, or approximately 39.3700787 inches (3.28084 feet or 1.09361 yards).
Meters are measured using meter sticks, retractable steel tape measures, laser distance finders, and total station surveying instruments in construction, athletics, physics, and civil engineering.
When converting length between inches (in) and meters (m), keep full floating-point precision (1" = 0.0254 m; 1 m = 39.3700787 in) during intermediate calculations and round only the final meter figure to match your instrument tolerance.
More Inch & Meter Conversions
Need to calculate in the opposite direction? Use our meters to inches converter (m to in) to switch your starting unit immediately. You can also explore related tools such as converting feet to meters, converting yards to meters, or converting inches to centimeters.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- [1]NIST OWM StandardNIST OWM (SI Units — Length)·Length Metrology Standard — Inches (in) to Meters (m)
- [2]BIPM SpecificationBIPM (SI Base Unit: Metre (m))·Unit Specifications: Inch (in) & Meter (m)
- [3]NIST HB 133 ReferenceNIST HB 133 (NIST Handbook 133 (2019 Ed.))·Conversion Factors & Mathematical Basis (in to m)