Centimeter to Hectometer Converter
Convert centimeters to hectometers with our free online length converter.
Quick Answer
1 Centimeter = 0.0001 hectometers
Formula: Centimeter × conversion factor = Hectometer
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.
Centimeter to Hectometer Calculator
How to Use the Centimeter to Hectometer Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Centimeter).
- The converted value in Hectometer will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Centimeter to Hectometer: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Centimeter to Hectometer involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Centimeter = 0.0001 hectometersExample Calculation:
Convert 10 centimeters: 10 × 0.0001 = 0.001 hectometers
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
Need to convert to other length units?
View all Length conversions →What is a Centimeter and a Hectometer?
The centimeter (symbol: cm) is a unit of length equal to exactly one-hundredth of a meter (1/100 m or 0.01 m). It's also equal to exactly 10 millimeters.
The centimeter is part of the International System of Units (SI) and uses the metric prefix "centi-" meaning one-hundredth (from Latin centum, "hundred").
Mathematical Relationships
1 centimeter equals:
- 10 millimeters (mm)
- 0.01 meters (m)
- 0.00001 kilometers (km)
- 0.393701 inches (in)
- 0.0328084 feet (ft)
Key conversion:
- 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly (this is the official international definition established in 1959)
Why Centimeters?
While the meter is the official SI base unit for length, centimeters are more practical for everyday measurements:
Too small for meters, too large for millimeters: A person who is 1.75 meters tall is more commonly described as 175 centimeters in metric countries. Writing "1.75 m" requires decimals; "175 cm" uses whole numbers.
Human-scale convenience: Most objects people interact with daily—clothing, screens, body measurements, food items—fall naturally into the 1-100 cm range.
Avoids decimal confusion: "15.2 cm" is clearer than "0.152 m" for most people.
The hectometer (symbol: hm) is a unit of length in the metric system. It is defined as exactly one hundred (100) meters, which is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Therefore, 1 kilometer equals 10 hectometers.
Note: The Centimeter is part of the metric (SI) system, primarily used globally in science and trade. The Hectometer belongs to the metric (SI) system.
History of the Centimeter and Hectometer
French Revolution and the Birth of the Metric System
1790s: Revolutionary Innovation: The centimeter was born from the French Revolution's ambition to create a rational, universal measurement system based on nature and decimal mathematics.
The Meter Foundation: In 1791, the French Academy of Sciences defined the meter as one ten-millionth (1/10,000,000) of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along the meridian passing through Paris. The centimeter automatically followed as 1/100 of this meter.
Latin Roots: The prefix "centi-" derives from the Latin centum (hundred), making "centimeter" literally "hundredth of a meter."
1795 Official Adoption: France officially adopted the metric system on April 7, 1795, including the centimeter as a standard subdivision of the meter.
CGS System: The Centimeter's Scientific Era
1874: The Centimeter-Gram-Second System: British scientists James Clerk Maxwell and William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) promoted the CGS system, which used:
- Centimeter for length (instead of meter)
- Gram for mass (instead of kilogram)
- Second for time
Scientific Dominance: The CGS system became the preferred standard for physics and chemistry throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many scientific formulas and units were developed using centimeters.
Legacy Units: Several units still reflect the CGS heritage:
- Poise (viscosity): measured in gram/(centimeter·second)
- Erg (energy): gram·centimeter²/second²
- Gauss (magnetic field): CGS unit for magnetic flux density
Transition to SI and the Modern Era
1960: The SI System: The International System of Units (SI) was officially established, promoting the meter-kilogram-second (MKS) system instead of CGS.
Centimeter's Continued Relevance: Despite the official SI preference for meters, centimeters remained dominant for everyday measurements because:
- They're more practical for human-scale objects
- They avoid decimals for most common measurements
- They're familiar and intuitive
Global Adoption: Today, 195 of 198 countries use the metric system, with centimeters as the standard for body height, clothing, and everyday measurements. Only the United States, Myanmar, and Liberia officially use non-metric systems.
The hectometer originates from the French Revolution era, alongside the development of the metric system in the 1790s. The system aimed for rational, decimal-based units derived from the meter. The prefix "hecto-" (derived from Greek "hekaton" meaning hundred) signifies a factor of one hundred (10²). While the meter and kilometer became the more common standards for many applications, the hectometer was defined as part of the systematic decimal structure of the metric system.
Common Uses and Applications: centimeters vs hectometers
Explore the typical applications for both Centimeter (metric) and Hectometer (metric) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for centimeters
Medical and Healthcare
Growth Charts: Children's height is tracked in centimeters from birth:
- Pediatricians plot growth on percentile charts
- Birth length recorded in cm (typically 45-55 cm)
- Annual height measurements track development
Medical Measurements:
- Wound size: "3 cm laceration"
- Tumor diameter: measured in cm for staging
- Organ size: "enlarged liver extending 4 cm below rib cage"
- Dilation during childbirth: measured in cm (0-10 cm)
Medical Equipment:
- Blood pressure cuff width: 12-13 cm for adults
- Surgical incision length: documented in cm
- Catheter diameter: measured in mm, length in cm
Education and School Supplies
Rulers and Measuring Tools: Most rulers worldwide show centimeters:
- Standard ruler: 15 cm or 30 cm length
- Meter stick: 100 cm with cm markings
- Tape measures: marked in cm (and meters)
Paper Sizes (International ISO 216 Standard):
- A4 paper: 21 × 29.7 cm (most common worldwide)
- A5 paper: 14.8 × 21 cm (half of A4)
- A3 paper: 29.7 × 42 cm (double A4)
- Letter size (US): 21.6 × 27.9 cm (8.5 × 11 inches)
School Supplies:
- Pencil length: 19 cm (new)
- Notebook width: 15-21 cm
- Eraser length: 4-6 cm
Construction and Home Improvement
Tile Sizes: Floor and wall tiles measured in cm:
- Small tiles: 10×10 cm
- Medium tiles: 30×30 cm
- Large format tiles: 60×60 cm or 80×80 cm
- Subway tiles: 7.5×15 cm
Furniture Dimensions:
- Coffee table height: 40-50 cm
- Dining table height: 75 cm (standard)
- Chair seat height: 45-50 cm
- Sofa seat depth: 50-60 cm
Door Measurements:
- Standard interior door width: 80-90 cm
- Standard door height: 200-210 cm
- Door thickness: 3.5-4.5 cm
Art, Design, and Photography
Photo Print Sizes:
- 10×15 cm (4×6 inches) - standard print
- 13×18 cm (5×7 inches)
- 20×25 cm (8×10 inches)
- 30×40 cm (12×16 inches)
Canvas and Frame Sizes: Art supply stores sell in metric:
- Small canvas: 20×25 cm
- Medium canvas: 30×40 cm
- Large canvas: 50×70 cm
Drawing and Design:
- Technical drawings: dimensioned in cm or mm
- Graph paper: 0.5 cm or 1 cm grids
- Architectural scales: often use 1:50 or 1:100 (cm-based)
Sports and Recreation
Swimming Pool Depth: Measured in cm or meters:
- Shallow end: 90-120 cm
- Deep end: 180-300 cm
- Competition pool depth: minimum 200 cm
Bicycle Frame Sizes: Road bikes measured in cm:
- Small frame: 48-52 cm
- Medium frame: 54-56 cm
- Large frame: 58-62 cm
Sports Equipment:
- Tennis ball diameter: 6.5-6.7 cm
- Golf ball diameter: 4.3 cm
- Basketball diameter: 24 cm
When to Use hectometers
The hectometer is not frequently used in everyday language or general measurements compared to meters or kilometers. However, it finds niche applications in specific fields:
- Agriculture and Forestry: Sometimes used for measuring land parcel dimensions or distances in large fields or forests where measurements are typically in the hundreds of meters.
- Surveying: Can be used in land surveying, particularly in contexts where metric units are standard but kilometers are too large and meters too small for convenient expression of certain distances.
- Meteorology: While not a length unit, the related unit hectopascal (hPa), using the same prefix, is the standard international unit for atmospheric pressure.
- Radio Astronomy: Certain radio wavelengths might be expressed in hectometers.
- Education: Useful in teaching the metric system to illustrate the powers of 10 and the relationship between different metric length units (1 km = 10 hm = 100 dam = 1000 m).
Additional Unit Information
About Hectometer (hm)
How many hectometers are in a kilometer?
There are exactly 10 hectometers in 1 kilometer.
How many meters are in a hectometer?
There are exactly 100 meters in 1 hectometer.
How many decameters are in a hectometer?
There are exactly 10 decameters (dam) in 1 hectometer.
How do you convert hectometers to miles?
To convert hectometers to miles, multiply the number of hectometers by approximately 0.0621371. For example, 5 hm is about 5 * 0.0621371 = 0.3106855 miles.
Is the hectometer commonly used?
No, the hectometer is one of the less commonly used metric units in everyday practice. Meters and kilometers are generally preferred for most practical distance measurements.
Why isn't the hectometer used more often?
For many everyday distances (room sizes, building heights), meters provide a convenient scale. For longer distances (travel, road signs), kilometers are more practical. The hectometer often represents an intermediate scale (100 meters, roughly the length of a football field) that doesn't align as frequently with common measurement needs as meters or kilometers do.
Conversion Table: Centimeter to Hectometer
| Centimeter (cm) | Hectometer (hm) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 |
| 1.5 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 |
| 5 | 0.001 |
| 10 | 0.001 |
| 25 | 0.003 |
| 50 | 0.005 |
| 100 | 0.01 |
| 250 | 0.025 |
| 500 | 0.05 |
| 1,000 | 0.1 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Centimeter to Hectometer?
To convert Centimeter to Hectometer, enter the value in Centimeter in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our length converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Centimeter to Hectometer?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Centimeter and Hectometer. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Hectometer back to Centimeter?
Yes! You can easily convert Hectometer back to Centimeter by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Hectometer to Centimeter converter page. You can also explore other length conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Centimeter and Hectometer?
Centimeter and Hectometer are both standard units used in length measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our length converter for more conversion options.
For more length conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
Helpful Conversion Guides
Learn more about unit conversion with our comprehensive guides:
📚 How to Convert Units
Step-by-step guide to unit conversion with practical examples.
🔢 Conversion Formulas
Essential formulas for length and other conversions.
⚖️ Metric vs Imperial
Understand the differences between measurement systems.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Learn about frequent errors and how to avoid them.
All Length Conversions
Other Length Units and Conversions
Explore other length units and their conversion options:
- Meter (m) • Centimeter to Meter
- Kilometer (km) • Centimeter to Kilometer
- Decimeter (dm) • Centimeter to Decimeter
- Millimeter (mm) • Centimeter to Millimeter
- Inch (in) • Centimeter to Inch
- Foot (ft) • Centimeter to Foot
- Yard (yd) • Centimeter to Yard
- Mile (mi) • Centimeter to Mile
- Nautical Mile (NM) • Centimeter to Nautical Mile
- Micrometer (μm) • Centimeter to Micrometer
Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology — Official US standards for length measurements
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units official documentation
Last verified: December 3, 2025