Millimeters to centimeters is a ÷10: 45 mm = 4.5 cm, 8 mm = 0.8 cm. Product specs, rainfall and engineering drawings quote mm; rulers, sewing patterns and body measurements quote cm — you switch between them constantly.
Where you'll meet this conversion
- A 12.5 mm drill bit is 1.25 cm.
- 17.5 mm of rain is 1.75 cm.
- A 6 mm allen key is 0.6 cm across.
Common mistake
Moving the decimal two places (that is mm→dm or cm→m). Between mm and cm it is exactly one place.
Quick answer: one millimeter equals 0.1 centimeters. So to convert millimeters to centimeters, multiply by 0.1.
How to convert millimeters to centimeters
centimeters = millimeters × 0.1
The millimeter is one thousandth of a meter and the workhorse of precision measurement — engineering drawings, 3D printing tolerances and rainfall totals are all quoted in millimeters.
The centimeter, one hundredth of a meter, is the everyday small unit of the metric world: body height, clothing measurements and school rulers all speak in centimeters.
Millimeter to Centimeter conversion table
| Millimeter (mm) | Centimeter (cm) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 mm | 0.001 cm |
| 0.1 mm | 0.01 cm |
| 0.25 mm | 0.025 cm |
| 0.4 mm | 0.04 cm |
| 0.75 mm | 0.075 cm |
| 1.25 mm | 0.125 cm |
| 1.75 mm | 0.175 cm |
| 2.5 mm | 0.25 cm |
| 3.5 mm | 0.35 cm |
| 4.5 mm | 0.45 cm |
| 6 mm | 0.6 cm |
| 8 mm | 0.8 cm |
| 10 mm | 1 cm |
| 12 mm | 1.2 cm |
| 14 mm | 1.4 cm |
| 16 mm | 1.6 cm |
| 18 mm | 1.8 cm |
| 20 mm | 2 cm |
| 24 mm | 2.4 cm |
| 26 mm | 2.6 cm |
| 30 mm | 3 cm |
| 35 mm | 3.5 cm |
| 45 mm | 4.5 cm |
| 55 mm | 5.5 cm |
| 65 mm | 6.5 cm |
| 75 mm | 7.5 cm |
| 85 mm | 8.5 cm |
| 95 mm | 9.5 cm |
| 110 mm | 11 cm |
| 125 mm | 12.5 cm |
| 175 mm | 17.5 cm |
| 250 mm | 25 cm |
| 350 mm | 35 cm |
| 450 mm | 45 cm |
| 600 mm | 60 cm |
| 750 mm | 75 cm |
| 900 mm | 90 cm |
| 1,500 mm | 150 cm |
| 2,500 mm | 250 cm |
| 10,000 mm | 1,000 cm |
Need the opposite direction? Use the Centimeter to Millimeter converter, or read our complete guide to length conversions for every formula in one place.
Full guide: Millimeters to Centimeters — where the factor comes from, worked examples and the mistakes people make.
Frequently asked questions
How many centimeters are in one millimeter?
One millimeter equals 0.1 centimeters. Multiply any millimeter value by 0.1 to get centimeters.
What is 10 millimeters in centimeters?
10 millimeters equal 1 centimeters (10 × 0.1).
Is the millimeter to centimeter conversion exact?
The conversion factor used here (0.1) is based on the internationally agreed definitions of both units, so results are exact up to rounding of the final decimal places.
Is my data stored when I use this converter?
No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser with JavaScript — nothing you type is sent to a server, logged or stored.