Convert Centimeters to Millimeters
Convert Centimeters to Millimeters instantly. 1 Centimeter (cm) equals 10 Millimeters (mm).
Centimeters to Millimeters conversion table
| Centimeters (cm) | Millimeters (mm) |
|---|---|
| 1 cm | 10 mm |
| 2 cm | 20 mm |
| 3 cm | 30 mm |
| 5 cm | 50 mm |
| 10 cm | 100 mm |
| 20 cm | 200 mm |
| 50 cm | 500 mm |
| 100 cm | 1,000 mm |
| 500 cm | 5,000 mm |
| 1,000 cm | 10,000 mm |
1 Centimeter = 10 Millimeters · multiply Centimeters by 10
About converting Centimeters to Millimeters
Centimeters (cm) and Millimeters (mm) are both units of length, so converting between them is a single multiplication: multiply your Centimeters figure by 10. Ten Centimeters comes to 100 Millimeters, and a hundred works out at 1,000 Millimeters.
Rule of thumb: going from Centimeters to Millimeters multiplies, so the figure always grows — one Centimeter is already 10 Millimeters. If your answer came out smaller, you have the conversion the wrong way round.
What is a Centimeter?
A centimeter is one hundredth of a meter. It is the everyday metric unit for body measurements, paper sizes, furniture and anything else you would reach for a ruler to check — small enough to be precise about a person’s height without resorting to decimals, large enough that you are not counting hundreds of them. Most of the world lists height in centimeters rather than feet and inches, so 180 cm is instantly readable as "about six foot" to a large part of the planet.
What is a Millimeter?
A millimeter is one thousandth of a meter, and it is where metric measurement starts getting genuinely precise. It is the working unit of engineering drawings, machine shops, rainfall figures and camera lenses — a "50 mm lens" and "12 mm of rain overnight" are both millimeter measurements. Technical drawings in most of the world default to millimeters precisely because it lets a draughtsman specify a whole component without ever writing a decimal point.
To put both in perspective: a standard credit card is 8.56 centimeters wide, while a credit card is about 0.76 millimeters thick.
The converter above updates as you type, and the table lists common values for quick reference. Need the opposite direction? Use the Millimeters to Centimeters converter, or browse all Length converters.
Frequently asked questions
How many Millimeters are in one Centimeter?
There are 10 Millimeters in one Centimeter.
How do I convert Centimeters to Millimeters?
Multiply the number of Centimeters by 10. For example, 10 Centimeters = 100 Millimeters.
What is 100 Centimeters in Millimeters?
100 Centimeters is equal to 1,000 Millimeters.
How do I convert Millimeters to Centimeters?
Multiply the Millimeters value by 0.1 (or divide by 10).
Is this Centimeters to Millimeters conversion exact?
Yes, exactly. Both units are fixed against the same base by definition, and 1 Centimeter = 10 Millimeters is the complete value — nothing is rounded away.
What is a Centimeter?
A centimeter is one hundredth of a meter. It is the everyday metric unit for body measurements, paper sizes, furniture and anything else you would reach for a ruler to check — small enough to be precise about a person’s height without resorting to decimals, large enough that you are not counting hundreds of them. Most of the world lists height in centimeters rather than feet and inches, so 180 cm is instantly readable as "about six foot" to a large part of the planet.
What is a Millimeter?
A millimeter is one thousandth of a meter, and it is where metric measurement starts getting genuinely precise. It is the working unit of engineering drawings, machine shops, rainfall figures and camera lenses — a "50 mm lens" and "12 mm of rain overnight" are both millimeter measurements. Technical drawings in most of the world default to millimeters precisely because it lets a draughtsman specify a whole component without ever writing a decimal point.