Convert centimetres (cm) to metres (m) instantly. There are exactly 100 centimetres in one metre, so the formula is simply: metres = centimetres / 100. This converter also supports the reverse conversion from metres back to centimetres.
| Centimetres (cm) | Metres (m) | Millimetres (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | 0.01 m | 10 mm | 1 centimetre |
| 10 cm | 0.1 m | 100 mm | Width of a hand |
| 30 cm | 0.3 m | 300 mm | Approximately 1 foot |
| 50 cm | 0.5 m | 500 mm | Half a metre |
| 100 cm | 1.0 m | 1000 mm | Exactly 1 metre |
| 150 cm | 1.5 m | 1500 mm | Typical door handle height |
| 175 cm | 1.75 m | 1750 mm | Average NZ male height |
| 183 cm | 1.83 m | 1830 mm | 6 feet exactly |
| 200 cm | 2.0 m | 2000 mm | Standard ceiling height |
| 240 cm | 2.4 m | 2400 mm | Common NZ ceiling height |
| 500 cm | 5.0 m | 5000 mm | Length of a car |
| 1000 cm | 10.0 m | 10000 mm | 10 metres |
The centimetre and the metre are both units of length in the International System of Units (SI). The relationship between them is exact: one metre equals exactly 100 centimetres. To convert centimetres to metres, divide by 100. To convert metres to centimetres, multiply by 100.
The formula is:
Convert 175 cm to metres:
To verify, multiply back: 1.75 m x 100 = 175 cm. The conversion is correct.
The prefix "centi-" means one hundredth. So a centimetre is one hundredth of a metre. When you move from a smaller unit (cm) to a larger unit (m), you divide. When you move from a larger unit (m) to a smaller unit (cm), you multiply. This is the same logic used across all SI unit conversions (millimetres to metres, metres to kilometres, etc.).
| Unit | Symbol | Relative to 1 metre |
|---|---|---|
| Kilometre | km | 1000 m |
| Metre | m | 1 m (base unit) |
| Centimetre | cm | 0.01 m (1/100 of a metre) |
| Millimetre | mm | 0.001 m (1/1000 of a metre) |
In everyday use in New Zealand, heights are commonly given in centimetres (for example, a person who is 175 cm tall), while construction and building specifications are usually given in millimetres. Metres are used for room dimensions, land distances, and lengths over about 1 m.
Method: Standard SI unit conversion. 1 m = 100 cm exactly, per the International System of Units (SI), Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), 9th edition of the SI brochure.
This converter uses the exact SI definition: 1 metre = 100 centimetres. No rounding or approximation is applied to the conversion factor.
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