Word uses inches as its measurement unit in the US, so rulers, margins, indents and picture sizes all show values like 1″ or 0.5″. If you work in metric, you can switch Word to centimeters (or millimeters, points or picas) in one setting. This guide shows how in Word for Windows, Word for Mac and why Word for the web behaves differently, plus quick conversions and how to type a metric value without changing the setting.
Quick Answer
Click File > Options > Advanced. Scroll to the Display section, change Show measurements in units of to Centimeters, and click OK. The ruler, margins and dialog boxes now use cm.
Change Inches to Centimeters in Word for Windows
- Open Word and click File.
- Click Options (you may need to click More > Options at the bottom left).
- Select Advanced in the left pane.
- Scroll down to Display.
- Next to Show measurements in units of, choose Centimeters. Other options are Inches, Millimeters, Points and Picas.
- Click OK.
The change applies to all documents in Word on that computer. Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook have separate settings or follow Windows’ regional settings.
Word for Mac
- Click Word > Settings (or Preferences in older versions).
- Under Authoring and Proofing Tools, click General.
- Set Show measurements in units of to Centimeters.
- Close the window.
Word for the Web
Word for the web doesn’t have this option. It follows the language and region settings of your Microsoft account and browser, so measurements may appear in cm automatically if your region uses metric. Use the desktop app if you need to switch.
Type Centimeters Without Changing the Setting
In any measurement box, such as margins or picture size, type the value followed by cm (for example 2.5 cm). Word converts it to your current unit automatically. This also works with mm, pt and “ for inches.
Quick Conversion Reference
| Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 0.25″ | 0.64 cm |
| 0.5″ | 1.27 cm |
| 1″ (default margin) | 2.54 cm |
| 1.25″ | 3.18 cm |
| 8.5″ (Letter width) | 21.59 cm |
| 11″ (Letter height) | 27.94 cm |
1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly. If you’re switching to metric, you may also want A4 paper (21 × 29.7 cm): Layout > Size > A4.
Change the Ruler Only?
The ruler uses the same setting, so switching to centimeters changes the ruler too. If the ruler isn’t visible, turn it on with View > Ruler. If the ruler shows characters instead of cm, uncheck Show measurements in width of characters in the same Advanced section (it appears when East Asian languages are enabled).
The new units appear on the ruler, so turn on the ruler in Word if it’s hidden.
Related: How to Create a 0.5-Inch First Line Indent in Word.
Troubleshooting
- Setting reverts: close all Word windows and reopen. If it still reverts, your Normal template may be damaged, or a company policy may control it.
- Existing documents still show inches in some places: styles and table properties display in the new unit, but values are converted, so 1″ appears as 2.54 cm.
- Font sizes don’t change: fonts always use points, regardless of this setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this change my document for other people?
No. It only changes how measurements are displayed on your computer.
Can I use millimeters?
Yes. Choose Millimeters in the same list.
Why are my new documents Letter size in cm?
Paper size is separate. Change it with Layout > Size, and click Set As Default in the Page Setup dialog to keep it.
Summary
- File > Options > Advanced.
- Display > Show measurements in units of > Centimeters.
- Click OK.
- Or type “cm” after any value to enter metric directly.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.