What Is This Tool?
This online converter allows you to change length values from mil (also known as thou), a unit equivalent to one thousandth of an inch, to centiinch, a unit equal to one hundredth of an inch. It helps translate measurements used for small dimensions and tolerances in engineering, manufacturing, and design.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the length value measured in mil (thou) in the input field.
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Select mil as your starting unit and centiinch as the target unit.
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Click the convert button to get the result in centiinch.
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Review the converted value which reflects the length in hundredths of an inch.
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Use the results to assist in manufacturing, machining, or printed layout work.
Key Features
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Converts length measurements from mil [mil, thou] to centiinch [cin].
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Supports precise scaling from thousandths to hundredths of an inch.
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Browser-based and easy to use without requiring downloads.
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Shows clear examples of common conversions between these units.
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Beneficial for manufacturing, engineering, and graphic layout applications.
Examples
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10 mil equals 1 centiinch.
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50 mil corresponds to 5 centiinch.
Common Use Cases
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Specifying paint or coating thickness in automotive and industrial applications.
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Defining printed circuit board (PCB) trace widths, spacing, and drill sizes in electronics.
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Describing film, sheet, wire diameters, or shim/gap tolerances in mechanical fabrication.
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Expressing moderate-precision dimensions in manufacturing and machining using hundredths of an inch.
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Converting inch-based measurements to metric for engineering documentation or tooling.
Tips & Best Practices
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Ensure that you understand the difference between thousandths and hundredths of an inch when working with small measurements.
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Confirm unit definitions to avoid confusion since centiinch is a nonstandard unit.
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Use this converter to help communicate measurements clearly within manufacturing or design teams.
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Double-check conversions when preparing documentation for international use due to the informal status of centiinch.
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Apply these conversions consistently to maintain precision in moderate-scale engineering tasks.
Limitations
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The centiinch is not a standardized unit and might not be recognized in international standards.
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Its informal use may cause misunderstandings if the unit is not clearly explained.
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This converter applies only to the specific mil–centiinch relationship and does not cover other units.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a mil (thou)?
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A mil, or thou, is a unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch (0.001 in) used mainly to specify small thicknesses and tolerances in manufacturing.
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What does centiinch mean?
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A centiinch is a nonstandard length unit equal to one hundredth of an inch (0.01 in), often used informally to express moderate-precision dimensions.
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Why convert mil to centiinch?
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Converting from mil to centiinch helps express small measurements at a scale of hundredths of an inch rather than thousandths, making tolerances easier to interpret in some engineering contexts.
Key Terminology
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Mil (thou)
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A length unit equal to one thousandth of an inch (0.001 in), used to specify small thicknesses, clearances, and tolerances.
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Centiinch (cin)
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A nonstandard length unit equal to one hundredth of an inch (0.01 in) used informally for moderate-precision measurements.