5 mm is about 0.197 inches, or about 13/64 inch (slightly less). It is a little more than 3/16 inch and exactly 0.5 cm. Divide millimeters by 25.4, because 1 inch is defined as exactly 25.4 mm.
5 mm ≈ 13/64″
Slightly less than 13/64″ (by 0.16 mm) · ≈ 0.197 in
- Inches
- ≈ 0.1969 in
- Nearest 1/16″
- 3/16″ 5 mm is 0.24 mm longer
- Nearest 1/32″
- 3/16″ 5 mm is 0.24 mm longer
- Nearest 1/64″
- 13/64″ 5 mm is 0.16 mm shorter
How big is 5 mm?
5 mm = 5 ÷ 25.4 in ≈ 0.19685 in. On a tape measure that falls between 3/16 in (0.1875 in, 4.7625 mm) and 13/64 in (0.2031 in, 5.159 mm). 5 mm is longer than 3/16 in by about 0.24 mm and shorter than 13/64 in by about 0.16 mm. In other metric units, 5 mm is exactly 0.5 cm and exactly 0.005 m.
Compared with other common fractions: 1/8 in is 3.175 mm, so 5 mm is about 1.8 mm more; 1/4 in is 6.35 mm, so 5 mm is about 1.35 mm less.
Things that are about 5 mm
These are nominal sizes. Real parts vary a little with the maker, so check the part when fit matters.
Three stacked US quarters
A US quarter is 1.75 mm thick, so three stacked are 5.25 mm, about 0.25 mm more than 5 mm.
About seven bank cards
A standard bank card is 0.76 mm thick, so 5 mm is about 6.6 cards. A stack of seven is 5.32 mm.
An M5 screw or bolt
The “M5” label means a thread diameter of 5 mm. A hex key of 4 mm fits an M5 socket head screw; a 5 mm key fits an M6.
A 5 mm drill bit
A standard metric bit size. The closest fraction bit, 13/64 in, drills a hole about 0.16 mm larger; 3/16 in drills one about 0.24 mm smaller.
5 mm of rain
1 mm of rainfall is 1 liter of water on each square meter, so 5 mm of rain is 5 liters on every square meter.
Nearby millimeter sizes
Decimals are rounded to 3 places. In the fraction columns, + means the value is slightly longer than the fraction, − slightly shorter, and = exact.
| Millimeters (mm) | Inches (decimal) | Nearest 1/16″ | Nearest 1/32″ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mm | 0.039 | 1/16″ − | 1/32″ + |
| 2 mm | 0.079 | 1/16″ + | 3/32″ − |
| 3 mm | 0.118 | 1/8″ − | 1/8″ − |
| 4 mm | 0.157 | 3/16″ − | 5/32″ + |
| 5 mm | 0.197 | 3/16″ + | 3/16″ + |
| 6 mm | 0.236 | 1/4″ − | 1/4″ − |
| 7 mm | 0.276 | 1/4″ + | 9/32″ − |
| 8 mm | 0.315 | 5/16″ + | 5/16″ + |
| 9 mm | 0.354 | 3/8″ − | 11/32″ + |
| 10 mm | 0.394 | 3/8″ + | 13/32″ − |
| 11 mm | 0.433 | 7/16″ − | 7/16″ − |
| 12 mm | 0.472 | 1/2″ − | 15/32″ + |
Frequently asked questions
How many inches is 5 mm?
5 mm is about 0.197 inches (0.19685 in), or about 13/64 inch, slightly less.
Is 5 mm the same as 3/16 inch?
Close, but not equal. 3/16 inch is 4.7625 mm, so 5 mm is about 0.24 mm longer.
Is 5 mm the same as 1/4 inch?
No. 1/4 inch is 6.35 mm, which is about 1.35 mm larger than 5 mm.
How many cm is 5 mm?
5 mm is exactly 0.5 cm, because 1 cm is 10 mm.
How can I measure 5 mm without a ruler?
Three stacked US quarters are 5.25 mm thick, which is close enough for a rough check. Use a ruler or caliper when it matters.
What does a 5 mm measurement on a medical report mean?
It means the finding measures 5 mm (0.5 cm, about 0.2 inches) across. Whether that matters depends on what it is and on your history, so ask the clinician who ordered the test.
How do I convert mm to inches?
Divide the millimeters by 25.4. For 5 mm, 5 ÷ 25.4 ≈ 0.197 inches.
