Published
9 inches is 22.86 centimeters, 228.6 millimeters, or exactly 0.75 feet: three quarters of a foot. It is the size of a standard pie dish, a dinner-size paper plate and the paint roller you use on walls.
9 inches in cm, mm and feet
Multiply by 2.54: 9 × 2.54 = 22.86 cm. In feet, divide by 12: 9 ÷ 12 = 0.75, so 9 inches is ¾ of a foot. In yards it is a clean quarter, because a yard is 36 inches.
| Inches | Centimeters | Millimeters | Feet | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ½ | 21.59 | 215.9 | 0.71 | 0.24 |
| 8 ¾ | 22.23 | 222.3 | 0.73 | 0.24 |
| 9 | 22.86 | 228.6 | 0.75 | 0.25 |
| 9 ¼ | 23.50 | 235.0 | 0.77 | 0.26 |
| 9 ½ | 24.13 | 241.3 | 0.79 | 0.26 |
13 everyday things that are 9 inches
Each object below is drawn to scale above a ruler, so the 9 inches you see is the real 9 inches. Most of them are sold as “9-inch” something, which is why people search for them.
1. A 9-Inch Round Cake
Most American layer-cake recipes are written for two 9-inch round pans. A 9-inch layer bakes in about 25 to 35 minutes, depending on the batter.
If your pans are 8 inches instead, the same batter makes thicker layers that need a few more minutes in the oven.
2. A 9-Inch Pie Dish
9 inches is the standard pie size, and most pie recipes assume it. The size is measured across the inside of the dish at the top, so a fluted rim makes the dish a little wider overall.
A deep-dish pie plate is usually 9 ½ inches and holds more filling, so check which one your recipe expects.
3. A 9 × 5 Loaf Pan
The classic loaf pan is 9 inches long and 5 inches wide at the top, and holds about 8 cups of batter. It is the pan for banana bread and sandwich loaves.
The other common size is 8 ½ × 4 ½ inches. A recipe written for it bakes a flatter loaf in a 9 × 5 pan.
4. A 9-Inch Paper Plate
Paper plates are usually sold in about 6, 7, 9 and 10-inch sizes. The 9-inch plate is the everyday dinner size for picnics and parties.
The 6 and 7-inch plates are for dessert and snacks, and the 10-inch plates are for heavy, full meals.
5. 9-Inch Kitchen Tongs
Kitchen tongs usually come in 9, 12 and 16-inch lengths. The 9-inch pair is the handy one for a skillet, a salad bowl or a serving dish.
Over a hot grill, the 12 or 16-inch pair keeps your hand farther from the heat.
6. A 9-Inch Lazy Susan
Lazy susans are sold by the diameter of the top. A 9-inch turntable fits a spice shelf, the corner of a counter or the inside of a narrow cabinet.
Measure the depth of the shelf first: a 9-inch turntable needs at least 9 inches of clear depth to spin.
7. 9 × 12 Construction Paper
Construction paper for US classrooms is sold in 9 × 12-inch packs, so the short side of a sheet is exactly 9 inches.
The big sheets are 12 × 18 inches, which is two 9 × 12 sheets side by side.
8. A 6 × 9 Padded Envelope
A 6 × 9-inch padded mailer is a common size for small, flat things: a paperback, a phone case, a few trading cards.
Mailer sizes describe the envelope, so the usable space inside is a little smaller once you account for the padding and the flap.
9. A 9-Inch Paint Roller
9 inches is the standard width of a paint roller for walls and ceilings, and the size most roller frames and paint trays are made for.
Mini rollers of 4 and 6 inches are for trim, doors and cabinets; 18-inch rollers cover large walls faster.
10. A 9-Inch Grinding Disc
Large angle grinders take 9-inch discs. They are made to the metric size of 230 mm, which is 9.06 inches, just over 9.
Only fit a disc whose maximum speed is at least the speed of the grinder; it is printed on the disc label.
11. A 9-Inch Torpedo Level
A torpedo level is a short spirit level with tapered ends, and 9 inches is its most common length. It fits in a tool belt and in tight spots such as shelves and pipes.
For a long shelf or a door frame, a 24 or 48-inch level is more accurate, because it spans more of the surface.
12. A Traditional 9-Inch Brick
Traditional British bricks, and the conventional bricks still common in India, are about 9 × 4 ½ × 3 inches. That is why a wall one brick thick is called a “9-inch wall”.
American bricks are smaller: a standard modular brick is 7 ⅝ inches long, so with a ⅜-inch mortar joint it takes up 8 inches in the wall.
13. A 9-Inch Pilates Ball
The small soft ball used in Pilates, barre and physical therapy is usually 9 to 10 inches across when inflated.
It is only partly filled with air on purpose, so it squeezes between your knees or supports your lower back.
How many people does a 9-inch cake feed?
A two-layer 9-inch round cake, about 4 inches tall, gives around 24 party slices of 1 ½ × 2 inches when you cut it in rings, the way baking charts count servings. Cut into ordinary wedges at home, it serves 10 to 12 people.
A single-layer 9-inch cake, or a 9-inch pie, is usually cut into 8 slices.
How big is a 9-inch pizza?
A 9-inch pizza is a personal or small size, usually cut into 6 slices for one person. Its surface is 63.62 square inches (410 cm²).
Diameter is misleading with pizza. One 9-inch pizza has more surface than two 5-inch pizzas: 63.62 square inches against 39.27, so 62% more pizza.
Is there a 9-inch sub?
Not at the big sandwich chains. Subs come as a 6-inch or a footlong (12 inches), and 9 inches would fall right between the two. If you want something in the middle, two 6-inch subs come to 12 inches, the same as a footlong.
9 inches on your body
Bodies vary, so treat these as rough guides and check your own once against a ruler.
- Your hand span: for many adults, the stretch from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinky is about 8 to 9 inches.
- A 9-inch foot: a foot 9 inches long, heel to longest toe, usually fits around a US men’s size 5 or a women’s size 6 ½, depending on the brand.
- Your forearm: 9 inches is a little shorter than the forearm of most adults, from the inside of the elbow to the wrist.
9 inches in diameter
The cake, the pie dish, the paper plate, the disc and the ball above are all 9-inch circles. A circle 9 inches across has a radius of 4.5 inches, a circumference of 28.27 inches (71.82 cm) and an area of 63.62 square inches.
A 9-inch round pan and a 9 × 9-inch square pan are not the same: the square has 81 square inches of bottom, about 27% more than the round pan, so it needs more batter or a shorter baking time.
How 9 inches compares to nearby sizes
| Length | In cm | Everyday example |
|---|---|---|
| 7 in | 17.78 cm | A 7-inch vinyl single |
| 8 in | 20.32 cm | An 8 × 10 photo, short side |
| 9 in | 22.86 cm | A 9-inch pie dish |
| 10 in | 25.4 cm | A 10-inch dinner plate |
| 11 in | 27.94 cm | US Letter paper, long side |
Measuring 9 inches without a ruler
- A sheet of Letter paper: the short side is 8 ½ inches, so add half an inch.
- A dollar bill and a half: a bill is 6.14 inches long, so one bill plus half of another is about 9.2 inches.
- A 12-inch ruler: cover the last 3 inches, or use three quarters of it.
- A dinner-size paper plate: many are 9 inches across; check the package once.
More sizes to compare
- 20 cm in inches: 7.87 in, just under 8 inches
- What 8 inches looks like: 20.32 cm, and why an “8-inch” block is 7⅝ inches
- What 10 inches looks like: 25.4 cm, from a saw blade to a 10-inch rough-in toilet
- How big 11 inches is: 27.94 cm, one inch short of a foot
- Inches to cm converter: any length in inches, with a 1–100 inch chart and fractions
FAQs
9 inches is exactly 22.86 cm, or 228.6 mm.
9 inches is 0.75 feet, three quarters of a foot. It is also 0.25 yards.
It depends on what you measure. For a pie, a cake or a paint roller, 9 inches is the standard size. For a pizza, it is a small, one-person size.
No. A “9-inch cake pan” is round, 9 inches across. A 9 × 9 pan is square and has about 27% more surface, so recipes are not always interchangeable.
A 9-inch foot usually fits around a US men’s size 5 or a women’s size 6 ½, though sizes vary by brand.
5 feet 9 inches is 69 inches, which is 175.26 cm, or about 1.75 meters.
Need another length? Convert it with the inches to cm converter, or see what 10 inches looks like, one inch more.