Convert Centiinch to Microinch
Convert centiinches to microinches instantly. 1 centiinch = 10000 microinch — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Microinch to Centiinch converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Centiinch
A centiinch is an Imperial unit of length equal to one hundredth of an inch (2.54×10⁻⁴ m). It is functionally identical to the caliber as a length unit but appears in different industrial contexts.
Derived from the inch via the metric-style prefix centi- (Latin centum, hundred). Standardised through the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Centiinches occasionally appear in older engineering specifications and US-localised metric-pseudo notation. Most contemporary use prefers thousandths (mils) for sub-inch precision.
Standardised through the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement; rarely used in modern practice.
Microinch
A microinch is an Imperial unit of length equal to one millionth of an inch (2.54×10⁻⁸ m). It is used almost exclusively in surface-finish specifications for precision machining and optical components.
The microinch is derived from the inch using the SI-style prefix micro- to denote one millionth. Standardised through the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement, which fixed the inch at exactly 25.4 mm.
Microinches express surface roughness (Ra values) in US-based precision manufacturing — typical machined surfaces are 16–125 µin. Optical components and bearing races are often specified to 1–4 µin Ra.
Used in US precision-manufacturing literature throughout the 20th century; value became exact in 1959 when the inch was fixed at 25.4 mm via the International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Centiinch to Microinch conversion formula
The relationship between centiinches and microinches:
To convert centiinches to microinches, multiply the value in centiinches by 10000. To reverse, multiply microinches by 0.0001.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in microinches updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Microinch to Centiinch converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert centiinches to microinches
- Write down the value in centiinches (cin).
- Multiply that value by the factor 10000.
- The product is the equivalent value in microinches (µin).
- To reverse, multiply the microinch value by 0.0001.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 cin to µin:
1 × 10000 = 10000 µin
Example 2 — Convert 100 cin to µin:
100 × 10000 = 1000000 µin
Real-world example — Infrared to visible-spectrum mapping
A 10-centiinch thermal infrared wavelength corresponds to a much larger number in microinches, the unit favoured for ultraviolet and visible-light specifications.
10 cin × 10000 = 100000 µin
Real-world example — Mid-micron to nanometer
3 centiinches equals 3,000 microinches — useful when relating mid-infrared wavelengths (typically quoted in microns) to nanometer-scale visible-light wavelength tables.
3 cin × 10000 = 30000 µin
Real-world example — From microns to sub-micron features
One centiinch equals one thousand microinches — the conversion semiconductor designers do constantly when comparing mask feature dimensions to actual transistor gate lengths.
1 cin × 10000 = 10000 µin
Centiinch to Microinch conversion table
Standard reference values for converting centiinches to microinches:
| Centiinch [cin] | Microinch [µin] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 100 |
| 0.1 | 1000 |
| 1 | 10000 |
| 2 | 20000 |
| 3 | 30000 |
| 4 | 40000 |
| 5 | 50000 |
| 10 | 100000 |
| 20 | 200000 |
| 30 | 300000 |
| 40 | 400000 |
| 50 | 500000 |
| 100 | 1000000 |
| 500 | 5000000 |
| 1000 | 1e+7 |
Frequently asked questions
How many microinches is 1 centiinch?
How do I convert centiinches to microinches?
How do I convert microinches back to centiinches?
How many microinches is 100 centiinches?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Centiinch to other length units
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 cin = 10000 µin) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Astronomical Union — System of Astronomical Constants
The IAU defines astronomical units including the AU (149597870700 m exactly) light-year and parsec used in astronomy and astrophysics.