Convert 42 CM to Inches | Visual Length Comparison

Exact conversion

cm

42

mm

420

m

0.42

″

16.5354

Fractional inches

16 1/2″

Feet and inches

1′ 4 1/2″

Measured comparisons

• Sleeve length of an IWF men's bar: 42 cm is 1.2% longer; the ratio is 1.012:1. ^[1]
• Width of a 2020 MacBook Air: 42 cm is 38.1% longer; the ratio is 1.381:1. ^[2]
• The long side of A4 paper: 42 cm is 41.4% longer; the ratio is 1.414:1. ^[3]

Interesting Trivia About 42 Centimeters

• 💡The tail length of Golden lion tamarins is about 32–40 cm; 42 cm is only about 2 cm longer.
• 💡The nose-to-tail length of Black-footed ferrets is about 46–61 cm; 42 cm is only about 4 cm shorter.

Nearby conversions

Questions about this value

Method and sources

All values are calculated from the published dimensions linked below. 1 inch equals 25.4 mm exactly.

Sources

1. [1]IWF Technical and Competition Rules & Regulations (5 November 2025)
2. [2]MacBook Air (M1, 2020) — Technical Specifications
3. [3]ISO 216:2007 — Writing paper and certain classes of printed matter