Exact conversion
1 inch equals 2.54 cm. Multiply by 2 and both sides are 5.08 cm.
Why some instructions say 5.1 cm
Document instructions may round physical dimensions.
Pixels for this print size
At 300 DPI, this print corresponds to 600 x 600 pixels.
5.08 cm, 5.1 cm and 5 cm are not identical
| Value | Difference from exactly 2 inches | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 5.08 cm | Exact conversion | Use when you are converting 2 inches mathematically. |
| 5.1 cm | Rounded by 0.02 cm | Common when instructions round 50.8 mm to 51 mm. |
| 5.0 cm | 0.08 cm smaller | Do not substitute it when the issuer explicitly requires 2 x 2 inches or 51 x 51 mm. |
How to print the metric size accurately
For a standard 300 PPI workflow, use a 600 x 600 pixel JPEG with 300 PPI metadata and choose a true 2 x 2 inch or 5.08 x 5.08 cm output size. If you use the 4 x 6 sheet, disable automatic cropping or fit-to-page scaling so the six cells are not resized.
Use the receiving authority as the final source
Document-photo rules can change. Use this site to prepare dimensions and catch common image problems, then verify the latest requirements on the official website for the document you are submitting.