In engineering, woodworking, machine shop operations, and 3D printing, fractions and decimals are used interchangeably depending on your measurement tools. This chart provides a direct mathematical bridge between fractional inches, decimal inches (thousandths), and metric millimeters.
Choosing the Right Precision Level
- 1/16" Precision (Standard Tape Measure): Used in residential carpentry, drywall, framing, and general construction. 1/16" equals approximately
1.5875 mm. - 1/32" Precision (Cabinetry & Fine Woodworking): Used for tight wood joinery (dovetails, mortise & tenon), guitar building (lutherie), and precision craft. 1/32" equals
0.7938 mm. - 1/64" Precision (Machining & CNC Tooling): Used by machinists and toolmakers to convert drill bit sizes and caliper readings. 1/64" equals
0.3969 mm(less than 0.4 mm).
The Master Conversion Formulas
Fraction to Decimal
Divide the numerator by the denominator:
Decimal = Numerator ÷ Denominator
Example: 3/8" → 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375"Fraction / Inches to Millimeters (Metric)
Multiply decimal inches by 25.4:
Millimeters = Inches × 25.4
Example: 0.375" × 25.4 = 9.525 mmMillimeters to Fractional Inches
Divide mm by 25.4, then multiply remainder by 64:
Numerator = (mm ÷ 25.4) × 64
Example: 10 mm ÷ 25.4 × 64 ≈ 25/64"