How this calculator works
The decimetre is one tenth of a metre, so ten decimetres make one metre. The prefix deci means one tenth, just as centi means one hundredth and milli means one thousandth. A cubic decimetre is exactly one litre, which makes the decimetre useful in volume work as well as length.
Formula
metres = decimetres / 10. decimetres = metres x 10. centimetres = decimetres x 10. millimetres = decimetres x 100. inches = decimetres x 0.1 / 0.0254.
Worked example
25 dm = 2.5 m = 250 cm = 2,500 mm. 1 m = 10 dm. 1 dm = 3.93701 inches, and 1 dm3 = 1 L.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a decimetre a common unit?
It is less common than the centimetre or metre in everyday use, but it appears in older technical drawings and in volume work because one cubic decimetre is one litre. Some European building trades still use it.
How many decimetres are in a metre?
Exactly ten. The prefix deci means one tenth, so one decimetre is 0.1 m and ten of them make one metre.
How does a decimetre compare with a centimetre?
One decimetre is ten centimetres. A centimetre is one hundredth of a metre, while a decimetre is one tenth.