How many thou are in 1 centimeter?

One centimeter contains approximately 393.7 thou. Since 1 cm = 10 mm and 1 mm = 39.37 thou.

How do I convert cm to thou?

Multiply centimeters by 393.7. For example, 2.54 cm (1 inch) = exactly 1,000 thou.

When is this conversion needed?

In manufacturing where metric product dimensions (cm/mm) must be compared with American tolerance specifications (thou/mils).

Centimeters to Thou (cm to thou) Converter

1 cm = 393.7008 thou

1 Centimeter equals 393.7008 Thou (1 cm = 393.7008 thou). Convert Centimeters to Thou with formula, table, and examples.

One centimeter equals approximately 393.7 thou (mils). Since 1 cm = 0.3937 inches and 1 inch = 1,000 thou, multiply 0.3937 by 1,000. This conversion bridges the metric measurement system with the American precision engineering unit.

How to Convert Centimeters to Thou

thou = cm × 393.7007874016

Multiply the value in Centimeters by 393.7007874016

Take your value in Centimeters
Multiply by 393.7007874016
Read the result in Thou

Common Centimeters to Thou Conversions

Centimeters (cm)	Thou (thou)	Status
0.01 cm	3.937 thou
0.05 cm	19.685 thou
0.1 cm	39.3701 thou
0.5 cm	196.8504 thou
1 cm	393.7008 thou
2 cm	787.4016 thou
5 cm	1,968.5039 thou
10 cm	3,937.0079 thou
30 cm	11,811.0236 thou
50 cm	19,685.0394 thou
100 cm	39,370.0787 thou
500 cm	196,850.3937 thou
1,000 cm	393,700.7874 thou

Good to Know About Centimeters to Thou Conversion

The thou was invented because American engineers needed sub-inch precision without going metric. The centimeter already provided that precision to the rest of the world. Two solutions to the same problem, separated by an ocean and a stubborn preference.

Centimeters to Thou: What You Need to Know

A centimeter is about 394 thou. A human hair at 0.0075 cm is about 3 thou. A sheet of paper at 0.01 cm is about 4 thou. In manufacturing where metric and American specifications coexist, converting between centimeters (or millimeters) and thou is daily work.

What is a Centimeter? cm

A metric unit of length equal to one hundredth of a meter. Commonly used for body height, clothing sizes, and everyday measurements.

Metric body height clothing furniture

Learn more about Centimeter →

What is a Thou? thou

One thousandth of an inch (0.0254 mm). Also called a mil in the US. Used in engineering, manufacturing, and for measuring thin materials like plastic film.

Imperial engineering plastic film thickness wire gauges

Learn more about Thou →

Going the other way? Use our Thou to Centimeters converter.

Centimeters to Thou FAQ

One centimeter contains approximately 393.7 thou. Since 1 cm = 10 mm and 1 mm = 39.37 thou.
Multiply centimeters by 393.7. For example, 2.54 cm (1 inch) = exactly 1,000 thou.
In manufacturing where metric product dimensions (cm/mm) must be compared with American tolerance specifications (thou/mils).

Non-Frequently Asked Questions About Centimeters to Thou

Questions nobody should ask - but someone did.

Barely. One thou is 0.0254 mm or 25.4 micrometers. A human hair is about 3 thou thick. You can see a hair, so you can sort of see a thou - if you squint. It is at the edge of human visual perception.