Millimeters to Inches
Length conversion is where craft instructions cause the most expensive mistakes, because fabric, yarn and lumber are all sold in different units in different countries. The factors here are exact where an exact definition exists: an inch is defined as exactly 25.4 millimetres, and a yard as exactly 0.9144 metres.
Convert a measurement
Enter your own figure, pick the units on each side, and the result is worked out as you go. Nothing is stored.
All units at once
The same quantity written every way this page knows, so you do not have to convert twice.
Nothing entered yet, so the table below uses Millimetres (mm) as an example.
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| Millimetres (mm) Starting value | 1 |
| Centimetres (cm) | 0.1 |
| Metres (m) | 0.001 |
| Inches (in) | 0.0394 |
| Feet (ft) | 0.0033 |
| Yards (yd) | 0.0011 |
What this assumes
- An inch is exactly 25.4 millimetres by international agreement, so inch conversions are exact.
- A yard is exactly 0.9144 metres, and a metre is about 1.094 yards.
- Fabric is usually sold in yards in the United States and in metres almost everywhere else. When ordering, check whether the listing means a linear yard or a square yard.
Every figure on this page is worked out from millimetres, and the page states the factor rather than hiding it.
Questions people ask
How many centimetres is an inch?
Exactly 2.54 centimetres. That definition has been internationally agreed since 1959, so there is no rounding involved in inch to centimetre conversion whatever the length.
How many yards are in a metre?
One metre is about 1.0936 yards, and one yard is exactly 0.9144 metres. For fabric, a metre gives you roughly 3.6 inches more length than a yard.
How many inches is 10 centimetres?
About 3.94 inches. A useful rough rule for craft work is that 2.5 centimetres is almost exactly one inch, which is close enough for estimating but not for cutting.
Why do sewing patterns use both inches and centimetres?
Because the major pattern companies publish for both markets. Seam allowances are usually given in fractions of an inch in US patterns and in whole millimetres or centimetres elsewhere, which is why converting the allowance as well as the measurement matters.
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Meters to Yards
Convert metres to yards and back. Fabrics and yarn are sold in different units depending on the country.
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Yards to Meters
Convert yards to metres and back, for fabric, yarn and trim.
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