Cubit to Inch Converter

cubit to inch – How to convert cubit to in

The cubit is one of humanity’s oldest units of length — used by ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Hebrews, and Romans. It was born from the most intuitive of tools: the human body. Though it’s no longer part of modern measuring systems, the cubit still appears in historical architecture, religious texts, and archaeological references. To understand its scale in today's terms, we often need to convert cubits to inches.

Let’s explore how to make this conversion and what this fascinating unit still means today.

What is a cubit?

A cubit is a traditional unit based on the length of a person’s forearm — from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. Since it’s a body-based measure, cubits varied by region, culture, and even profession. However, several “standardized” cubits emerged over time.

The most widely used and referenced are:

• Royal Egyptian cubit: ~20.6 inches (52.3 cm)

• Hebrew cubit: ~18 inches (45.7 cm)

• Common cubit: ~17.5 inches (44.5 cm)

For general modern use, the Royal Egyptian cubit of 20.6 inches is often used for conversions unless a specific type of cubit is stated.

What is an inch (in)?

An inch is a standard imperial unit of length equal to 1/12 of a foot or 2.54 centimeters. Inches are commonly used in the United States, Canada, and the U.K. to measure everything from furniture dimensions to screen sizes and building specs.

As one of the most familiar everyday units, inches provide a more relatable frame of reference when interpreting historical or abstract units like the cubit.

How to convert cubits to inches

To convert from cubits to inches, you need to choose which definition of cubit you're using. Assuming the Royal Egyptian cubit (20.6 inches), the formula is:

inches = cubits × 20.6

If you're working with the Hebrew cubit (~18 in) or common cubit (~17.5 in), replace 20.6 with the relevant number.

Example conversion

Let’s say you have a wall described as 5 cubits long using the Royal Egyptian standard.

inches = 5 × 20.6
inches = 103

So, 5 cubits is equal to 103 inches.

Prefer to let a tool do the work? Try our Length Converter for instant cubit-to-inch conversions and many more. Or explore related options through our full Conversion tools set.

Did you know?

• The Great Pyramid of Giza was built using the Royal Egyptian cubit — one side of the base was about 440 cubits, or roughly 9,000 inches.

• In the Bible, Goliath’s height is given as “six cubits and a span,” which would be over 9 feet tall if using the Royal cubit.

• Ancient measuring rods called “cubit sticks” were carved from stone or wood and used for building temples, palaces, and canals.

• Some Roman cubits were based on "pes" (foot) units, making them slightly shorter than Egyptian ones.

• Artists and architects of the Renaissance referenced ancient cubit proportions in their studies of human anatomy and classical buildings.

When history meets hardware

Understanding the cubit is about more than measurement — it's about how people once interacted with their environment. Builders of ancient structures didn’t carry metal tape measures. They used what they had: their own arms, standardised with cubit rods for consistency.

In archaeological reconstructions, converting cubits to inches helps researchers visualize original dimensions using today’s tools. For example, an ancient Hebrew altar measuring “5 cubits by 5 cubits” becomes a clearly understandable 90 inches by 90 inches.

Modern designers and engineers occasionally draw inspiration from ancient systems. Proportions rooted in cubits — because they’re based on the human body — can feel intuitively balanced even by today’s ergonomic standards.

A practical bridge from past to present

To convert cubits to inches:

inches = cubits × 20.6 (Royal Egyptian standard)
Or
inches = cubits × 18 (Hebrew cubit)
inches = cubits × 17.5 (Common cubit)

Whatever version you’re working with, converting cubits into inches gives ancient structures, stories, and texts a tangible, modern scale.

Use the Length Converter to explore this and other historical units, or check out more tools in our full Conversion tools collection.