How Do I Change the Units Used By Cinema 4D To Something Other Than Centimeters?

Cinema 4D uses centimeters as the default scene units, but you can work in other measurements and convert values inline.

Enter mixed units and math in fields

Tip: Numeric fields understand units and basic math. For example, if you want a cube to measure 2.75 inches × 3.75 inches × 8 feet (a standard 2×4 in the U.S.), type those values directly in the cube’s Size fields. Cinema 4D will convert them to the active scene units automatically when you press Enter.

After confirming, values are converted to the current scene units:

Fields also support formulas; any numeric field can evaluate expressions.

Change scene units and project scale

If you want the UI to display different units throughout the scene, update both the Units preference and the Project Scale.

1. Set scene units in Preferences
   Go to Preferences → Units (Ctrl+E on Windows, Cmd+E on macOS) and choose your desired Unit. This changes how values are displayed, but does not change Project Scale.
   
    
2. Match the Project Scale
   Open Project Settings (Ctrl+D on Windows, Cmd+D on macOS) and set Project Scale to the same units you chose in Preferences. This ensures default sizes and scene measurements align with your chosen units.
   
    

After changing Units and Project Scale, your scene will display and use the new unit of measurement consistently.