5 inches at a glance
- Centimeters
- 12.7 cm
- Millimeters
- 127 mm
- Meters
- 0.127 m
- Feet & inches
- 5 in (under 1 ft)
- Feet (decimal)
- 0.4167 ft
- Nearest whole cm
- 13 cm
How to convert 5 inches to cm
cm = inches × 2.54
5 × 2.54 = 12.7 cm
5 × 2.54 = 12.7 cm
Because the inch is defined as exactly 2.54 cm, 12.7 cm is exact — no rounding involved. To do it in your head, split 2.54 into 2.5 + 0.04: 5 × 2.5 = 12.5 and 5 × 0.04 = 0.2, which add up to 12.7.
Fractions of an inch around 5 in
Tape measures between 5 and 6 in are marked in eighths. Each eighth adds 3.175 mm:
| Inches | Centimeters | Millimeters |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 12.7 | 127 |
| 5 1/8 | 13.0175 | 130.175 |
| 5 1/4 | 13.335 | 133.35 |
| 5 3/8 | 13.6525 | 136.525 |
| 5 1/2 | 13.97 | 139.7 |
| 5 5/8 | 14.2875 | 142.875 |
| 5 3/4 | 14.605 | 146.05 |
| 5 7/8 | 14.9225 | 149.225 |
5 inches in real life
- Tape measures. 5 in falls at 0 ft 5 in on a tape, 12.7 cm on the metric edge.
Objects of a similar size
- About the same as the long side of a 3 × 5 index card, 12.7 cm (5 in).
- 6% longer than the diameter of a CD, 12 cm (4.72 in).
- 19% shorter than the length of a US dollar bill, 15.6 cm (6.14 in).
Inches near 5 in
| Inches | Centimeters | Feet & inches / mm |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm | 25.4 mm |
| 2 in | 5.08 cm | 50.8 mm |
| 3 in | 7.62 cm | 76.2 mm |
| 4 in | 10.16 cm | 101.6 mm |
| 5 in | 12.7 cm | 127 mm |
| 6 in | 15.24 cm | 152.4 mm |
| 7 in | 17.78 cm | 177.8 mm |
| 8 in | 20.32 cm | 203.2 mm |
| 9 in | 22.86 cm | 228.6 mm |
| 10 in | 25.4 cm | 254 mm |
Going the other way: 13 cm to inches is 5.12 in.
Frequently asked questions
How many cm is 5 inches?
5 inches is exactly 12.7 cm, because one inch is defined as 2.54 cm.
What is 5 inches in mm?
5 in = 127 mm (multiply by 25.4).
What is 5 ½ inches in cm?
5.5 in × 2.54 = 13.97 cm.
Is 5 inches the same as 13 cm?
Not quite: 5 in is 12.7 cm, so 13 cm is 3 mm too long — close enough for most everyday measuring.