Skip to content
Woodworking Math

2-1/2 inch in decimal and mm

Decimal inches

2.5 in

Millimetres

63.5 mm

From the standard, the international inch, 25.4 mm exactly

The math

  1. A fraction is its top number divided by its bottom number: 2-1/2 in = 2 + 1 ÷ 2 = 2.5 in.
  2. An inch is exactly 25.4 mm, so 2.5 × 25.4 = 63.5 mm, or 63.500 mm to three places.
  3. In feet, divide by 12: 2.5 ÷ 12 = 0.208333 ft. In centimetres, divide the mm by 10: 6.35 cm.
  4. The same size in finer steps: 2-1/2 = 2-4/8 = 2-8/16 = 2-16/32 = 2-32/64. A tape marked in 16ths, 32nds or 64ths shows it at those marks.

Drills, plywood and lumber at 2-1/2 in

Drills either side of 2-1/2 in
DrillSizeOff by
1 in1 in−1.5 in
25 mm0.9843 in−38.5 mm

Every drill is on the drill bit size chart.

Bits of this size

Sizes either side

FractionDecimalmm
2-1/4 in2.25 in57.150 mm
2-3/4 in2.75 in69.850 mm

Every size is on the fraction to decimal chart; any other size goes in the fraction to decimal calculator.