mm to inches converter

Millimetres convert exactly — 25.4 mm to the inch. The useful part is what comes back: a fraction to the nearest 64th for the workshop, and thousandths for the lathe.

Inches

Inches (decimal)
Nearest 1/64 inch
Nearest 1/16 inch
Thousandths (thou)
Centimetres
Millimetres

Millimetres to inches

MillimetresInchesNearest 1/64"Thou
1 mm0.03,937″3/64″39
2 mm0.07,874″5/64″79
3 mm0.11,811″1/8″118
5 mm0.19,685″13/64″197
6 mm0.23,622″15/64″236
8 mm0.31,496″5/16″315
10 mm0.3,937″25/64″394
12 mm0.47,244″15/32″472
15 mm0.59,055″19/32″591
20 mm0.7,874″25/32″787
25 mm0.98,425″63/64″984
30 mm1.1,811″1 3/16″1,181
50 mm1.9,685″1 31/32″1,969
75 mm2.95,276″2 61/64″2,953
100 mm3.93,701″3 15/16″3,937

Fractional inches to millimetres

The standard workshop fractions, exact to two decimal places in millimetres.

FractionDecimal inchMillimetres
1/16″0.0,6251.587 mm
1/8″0.1253.175 mm
3/16″0.1,8754.762 mm
1/4″0.256.35 mm
5/16″0.3,1257.938 mm
3/8″0.3759.525 mm
1/2″0.512.7 mm
5/8″0.62515.875 mm
3/4″0.7519.05 mm
7/8″0.87522.225 mm
1″125.4 mm

Related calculators

25.4 exactly

One inch is defined as exactly 25.4 millimetres, which follows directly from the 1959 definition of the inch as 2.54 cm. Because the factor is exact, converting between the two systems introduces no error at all — every millimetre figure has a precise inch equivalent and vice versa. What introduces error is the rounding you do afterwards.

inches = mm ÷ 25.4   |   mm = inches × 25.4

Sixty-fourths, sixteenths and thousandths

Imperial workshops divide the inch in two different ways depending on the trade. Carpentry and general fabrication use binary fractions down to a sixteenth or a sixty-fourth, because that is how rules and drill sets are marked. Machining abandons fractions entirely and works in thousandths of an inch — a “thou” or “mil” — because a lathe dial is graduated decimally.

The page gives you all three. The note under the results tells you how much you actually lose by rounding to the nearest sixty-fourth, which is at most about 0.2 mm. If that matters, use the decimal or the thou figure instead.

Where this catches people out

Metric and imperial fastener sizes are close enough to be dangerous. A 10 mm bolt is 0.3937 inches, which is not quite 3/8″ (0.375″) and not quite 13/32″ (0.40625″). A 13 mm spanner will sit on a 1/2″ nut with 0.3 mm of slop — enough to round the corners under load. The usable near-matches are few: 25.4 mm is exactly one inch, and 12.7 mm is exactly half of one.

Frequently asked questions

How many mm are in an inch?
Exactly 25.4 millimetres. This follows from the 1959 definition of the inch as exactly 2.54 centimetres, so it is a defined value rather than a measurement.
What is 10 mm in inches?
10 mm is 0.3937 inches, which is 25/64 inch to the nearest sixty-fourth. It is close to 3/8 inch but about 0.475 mm larger.
How do I convert mm to inches?
Divide the millimetres by 25.4. For a rough mental estimate, divide by 25 instead, which overstates the answer by about 1.6%.
What is a thou or a mil?
Both names mean one thousandth of an inch, 0.0254 mm. Machinists work in thou because lathe and mill dials are graduated decimally rather than in fractions.
Is 3/8 inch the same as 10 mm?
No. 3/8 inch is 9.525 mm, so a 10 mm part is about half a millimetre larger. The difference is enough to matter for fasteners and press fits.

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