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Convert cm to decimeter

Convert cm to decimeter instantly. 1 cm = 0.1 dm. Formula, worked examples and a quick reference table.

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cm
dm

One centimeter equals 0.1 decimeters. To convert any number of centimeters to decimeters, multiply by 0.1.

The converter above works in both directions and updates as you type. Below you will find the formula, a worked example and a reference table of common values.

Length conversions come up wherever a measurement crosses a border: a height given in feet and inches on a form that wants centimetres, a running distance recorded in kilometres and compared against miles, a component specified in millimetres and ordered from a supplier working in inches. The conversions themselves are exact — the inch, foot, yard and mile have all been defined in metric terms since 1959 — so any discrepancy comes from rounding, not from the units disagreeing.

cm to decimeter formula

decimeter = centimeter × 0.1

To go the other way, use centimeter = decimeter ÷ 0.1.

About these units

The centimetre is a hundredth of a metre. It is the everyday unit for body height and clothing sizes almost everywhere outside the United States, where feet and inches persist.

The decimetre — a tenth of a metre — is rarely used on its own, but it defines the litre: one litre is exactly one cubic decimetre.

Centimeter is also written centimetre, centimetres and centimeters. Decimeter is also written decimetre, decimetres and decimeters.

Sources

  1. Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition, 2019.

cm to decimeter conversion table

Centimeter Decimeter
1 cm 0.1 dm
2 cm 0.2 dm
3 cm 0.3 dm
5 cm 0.5 dm
10 cm 1 dm
20 cm 2 dm
25 cm 2.5 dm
50 cm 5 dm
100 cm 10 dm
250 cm 25 dm
500 cm 50 dm
1,000 cm 100 dm

Frequently asked questions

How many decimeters are in a centimeter? +

There are 0.1 decimeters in one centimeter.

What is 10 cm in dm? +

10 cm equals 1 dm. Multiply 10 by 0.1.

How do I convert decimeter back to centimeter? +

Use centimeter = decimeter ÷ 0.1. The converter above handles both directions, or see our dedicated decimeter to cm page.

How accurate is this centimeter to decimeter conversion? +

The factor used is 0.1, carried at full double precision. Where a unit has an exact legal definition the factor is exact rather than approximate. Rounding is applied only to the displayed result, so the answer is never a calculation done on an already-rounded number.

Is there a quick way to estimate cm to dm in my head? +

Divide by 10. That matches the true factor of 0.1 exactly, so no adjustment is needed for a mental estimate.