Unit-To-Unit Length conversion

Inches to Millimetres

1 inch = 25.4 millimetres

Precision engineering usually works in millimetres even in imperial countries, because 25.4 is exact and gives three decimal places of resolution without fractions.

Formula mm = in × 25.4

=

Type in either field — the other updates on every keystroke. Need other units? Open the full length converter.

Inches to Millimetres — quick reference
InchMillimetre
1 in25.4 mm
2 in50.8 mm
3 in76.2 mm
4 in101.6 mm
5 in127 mm
10 in254 mm
15 in381 mm
20 in508 mm
25 in635 mm
50 in1270 mm
100 in2540 mm
500 in12700 mm
1000 in25400 mm
Millimetres to Inches — reverse
MillimetreInch
1 mm0.03937 in
2 mm0.07874 in
3 mm0.11811 in
4 mm0.15748 in
5 mm0.19685 in
10 mm0.393701 in
15 mm0.590551 in
20 mm0.787402 in
25 mm0.984252 in
50 mm1.968504 in
100 mm3.937008 in
500 mm19.685039 in
1000 mm39.370079 in

Worked examples

Common values
SituationFromTo
Small drill bit0.125 in3.175 mm
Quarter inch0.25 in6.35 mm
Half inch0.5 in12.7 mm
One inch1 in25.4 mm
One foot12 in304.8 mm
One yard36 in914.4 mm

Mental-math shortcut

Multiply by 25, then add 2%. 4 in is 100 + 2 = 102 mm, against an exact 101.6.

Where this conversion comes up

Drill bits, bolts and pipe sizes are often quoted in fractions of an inch. 3/8 in is 9.525 mm.

Common mistakes

Convert fractions to decimals first: 5/16 in is 0.3125 in, which is 7.94 mm, not 5.16 mm.

Background

An inch is exactly 25.4 mm, a figure fixed by the 1959 international agreement.

Learn more

Related guides: Imperial vs metric: differences and quick conversion tricks

Frequently asked

How many millimetres are in a inch?
1 inch = 25.4 millimetres. In the other direction, 1 millimetre = 0.039370079 inches.
What is a inch?
The international inch has been exactly 25.4 millimetres since 1959, which makes every inch-to-metric conversion exact rather than approximate.
What is a millimetre?
A millimetre is one thousandth of a metre. Engineering drawings, sheet material and rainfall are conventionally given in millimetres.
How many millimetres is 1 inch?
One inch is exactly 25.4 mm.