How Long Is 20 Inches, Twenty inches is 50.8 centimeters, or 1 foot 8 inches (about 1.67 feet). That is a little more than half a yard and just over half a meter.
This article shows you what that length looks like in real life. You will see it on a ruler, next to common objects, and on your body, since many people search for 20 inches in hair, extensions, wigs, and necklaces. Each of those behaves a little differently, and the differences matter before you buy.
20 Inches in Feet, Centimeters, and Other Units
The math is simple once you know two numbers. There are 12 inches in a foot, and 1 inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters.
- Feet: 20 ÷ 12 = 1.667 feet (1 foot 8 inches)
- Centimeters: 20 × 2.54 = 50.8 cm
- Millimeters: 508 mm
- Meters: 0.508 m
- Yards: 20 ÷ 36 = 0.556 yards
| Inches | Feet and inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1 ft 0 in | 30.5 |
| 16 | 1 ft 4 in | 40.6 |
| 18 | 1 ft 6 in | 45.7 |
| 20 | 1 ft 8 in | 50.8 |
| 22 | 1 ft 10 in | 55.9 |
| 24 | 2 ft 0 in | 61.0 |
A common slip is to read 1.67 feet as “1 foot 67 inches.” The decimal is a fraction of a foot, not inches. Two thirds of a foot is 8 inches, so 1.67 feet is 1 foot 8 inches.
How Long Is 20 Inches on a Ruler or Tape Measure?
A standard ruler is 12 inches long. So 20 inches is one full ruler plus 8 more inches.
On a tape measure, find the 1 foot mark and keep going until you pass the 8 inch mark after it. Many tapes also print foot marks (1′, 2′), so look for the point just before the 2 foot mark, where you are 4 inches short of it.
With a metric ruler, a 30 cm ruler laid end to end with a second one reaches 60 cm. Twenty inches stops about 9 cm short of that, at 50.8 cm.
How Long Is 20 Inches Compared to an Object?
Comparisons help the most when you do not have a ruler handy. These are close matches, not exact ones, because products vary.
- A sheet of US letter paper: One long side (11 inches) plus one short side (8.5 inches) is 19.5 inches, very close to 20.
- Dollar bills: A US bill is about 6.14 inches, so 20 inches is a little over three bills laid end to end.
- Credit cards: One card is about 3.37 inches, so you need around six.
- A door: A standard interior door is about 80 inches tall, so it is exactly four lengths of 20 inches.
- A carry-on bag: Many carry-on suitcases are 20 to 22 inches tall, so 20 inches is roughly the height of a small cabin bag.
- A soprano ukulele: It runs about 20 to 21 inches overall.
- A newborn baby: Average birth length is close to 20 inches.
If you want to see 20 inches without a ruler, use the paper trick. Place a letter sheet upright, then add the short edge of a second sheet. You have a fast, reliable 20 inch reference.
How Long Is 20 Inches Visually on Your Body?
This is where most people want the answer, because a length on paper looks different on a person. Where 20 inches lands depends on your height and on where the measurement starts.
| Item measured from the top | Typical landing point |
|---|---|
| Hair from the crown | Mid-back to waist, depending on height |
| Necklace or chain | On or just below the chest |
| Hair from the shoulder | Roughly to the hip or thigh |
For a visual check, hold a tape measure from your collarbone down your torso. At 20 inches you will usually be near the bottom of the ribcage on an average-height adult. Taller people land higher, shorter people lower.
How Long Is 20 Inches of Hair?
Twenty inches of hair is long. On most adults it falls between the mid-back and the waist when the hair is pulled straight.
Here is the part many pages skip. Hair length is measured with the hair stretched straight, from the root to the tip. Hair that bends or curls looks shorter, because the strand is not hanging at full length.
How Long Is 20 Inches of Straight Hair?
Straight hair shows its full length. A 20 inch strand hangs about 20 inches from where it starts. If you are about 5 feet 4 inches tall, that usually puts the ends around the middle of your back to your waistline. A taller person will see the ends sit higher.
How Long Is 20 Inches of Curly Hair?
Curly hair shrinks as it curls up, so the visible length is shorter than the stretched length. How much it shrinks depends on the curl pattern and how tight it is.
Here is a worked example. Say a curl pulls hair up by about 25 percent (an illustration, not a fixed rule). Then 20 inches stretched becomes:
20 × (1 − 0.25) = 15 inches hanging
That 15 inch look sits around the shoulder blades, not the waist. Looser waves shrink less. Tight coils can shrink more. So if you want curls that reach the waist, you may need to buy a longer length than you expect.
How Long Is 20 Inches in Hair Extensions?
Extension lengths are measured on the hair itself, not on how it looks once it is worn. A 20 inch set is about 20 inches from the attachment point to the tip.
Keep these points in mind:
- The hair starts at your root or the attachment point, so the finished length depends on where it sits on your head.
- Your own hair blends in, so if your natural hair is short, the 20 inch extensions will stick out past it and look layered.
- Straight extensions show full length. Wavy or curly ones look shorter.
If you want your hair and the extensions to match at the ends, your natural hair should be fairly close to the extension length, or you can ask a stylist to cut them together.
How Long Is 20 Inches of Weave?
A 20 inch weave bundle is also measured straight. After it is sewn in and styled, it often looks a bit shorter than 20 inches. That is partly because of the curl or wave pattern, and partly because some length is used up at the attachment line.
Many sellers say two to three bundles will fill a full head at this length. That is a general rule of thumb, so check the bundle weight and ask the seller, since thickness varies between brands.
How Long Is 20 Inches Wig?
On a wig, 20 inches usually means the longest strand measured straight. A straight 20 inch wig will hang to about mid-back to the waist. A wavy or curly 20 inch wig will look shorter, just as natural curly hair does.
Wigs also sit differently than hair. The hair starts at your hairline and crown, so a 20 inch wig on a short person can nearly touch the waist, while on a tall person it may end mid-back. If the listing does not say how the wig was measured, it is worth asking the seller before buying.
How Long Is 20 Inches Necklace?
A 20 inch necklace is a matinee length. It is longer than a choker (14 to 16 inches) and a princess length (17 to 19 inches), and shorter than an opera length (28 to 34 inches).
On most adults it sits at or just below the collarbone to the upper chest. It looks good with open necklines and works well for layering with shorter pieces.
How Long Is 20 Inches Chain?
A 20 inch chain behaves the same way as a necklace, but weight and width change how it hangs. A thick chain sits lower and feels heavier. A thin chain stays close to the skin and may ride a little higher.
If you are buying a pendant chain for a man, 20 inches is a popular choice. It usually falls on the upper chest and gives the pendant a clear place to sit without sliding under a shirt.
Note that chain length includes the clasp on most sellers’ listings, but not always. If it matters to you, look at the product description.
How to Check 20 Inches Before You Buy
Follow these steps so you do not guess:
- Cut a piece of string or thread to exactly 20 inches using a ruler.
- For jewelry, wrap the string around your neck and let it hang. See where the lowest point lands in a mirror.
- For hair, hold one end at the crown of your head and drape it down your back, or hold it at the shoulder if your natural hair is already long.
- Compare the result with what you want and adjust by 2 inches up or down.
This works because the string shows true length with no curve or weight, which is how most sellers measure.
Common Mistakes With 20 Inches
- Mixing up measurement starting points: Hair from the crown lands lower than hair from the shoulder. Check where the measurement begins.
- Expecting curly hair to hang 20 inches: Curl shrinks the visible length.
- Confusing decimal feet and feet plus inches: 1.67 feet is 1 foot 8 inches.
- Ignoring body height: The same 20 inches lands in a different place on each person.
- Forgetting the clasp: A “20 inch” chain may be measured with or without the clasp.
Conclusion
Twenty inches equals 50.8 cm or 1 foot 8 inches. In everyday terms, think of it as one letter sheet plus its short edge. For hair, wigs, and weave, remember that curl pattern and height change how long it looks. For necklaces and chains, 20 inches is a matinee length that lands on the upper chest. A simple string test before you buy can save you from ordering the wrong length.
FAQs about How Long Is 20 Inches:
Is 20 inches half a yard?
Not quite. Half a yard is 18 inches, so 20 inches is 2 inches more.
Is 20 inches the same as 50 cm?
It is very close. Exact conversion is 50.8 cm, so 50 cm is about 0.8 cm short.
What is 20 inches on a 20 inch TV or monitor?
Screens are measured on the diagonal, not on width or height. A 20 inch screen is therefore not 20 inches wide. A 16:9 display of this size is roughly 17.4 inches wide.
How tall is a 20 inch bike?
Bike sizes usually refer to the wheel diameter or frame size, not the total height. A 20 inch kids’ bike has wheels of that diameter, so it stands taller than 20 inches overall.
