In 1 decades there are 0.1 centuries. Meanwhile in 1 centuries there are 10 decades. Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure and how they are calculated. Or just use the Centuries to Decades calculator above to convert any number.
* Values rounded to 6 decimal places for readability
To convert decades to centuries, use the fact that 1 decade = 10 years and 1 century = 100 years.
Examples
If you need a whole-number century, round only when your goal allows it (like rough time periods).
There are 10 decades in 1 century. A decade is 10 years, and a century is 100 years. Since 100 ÷ 10 = 10, the count is 10 decades per century.
A decade has 10 years. A century has 100 years. These are fixed time units used in history, calendars, and everyday talk.
Divide the number of decades by 10 to get centuries.
Example: 25 decades ÷ 10 = 2.5 centuries.
Multiply the number of centuries by 10 to get decades.
Example: 3 centuries × 10 = 30 decades.
One decade is one-tenth of a century. Written as a fraction, that’s 1/10. Written as a decimal, it’s 0.1 century.
Five decades equals 0.5 century.
Reason: 5 ÷ 10 = 0.5.
Fifty decades equals 5 centuries.
Reason: 50 ÷ 10 = 5.
Not always. In casual use, decades often mean years like the 1990s (1990 to 1999). Centuries often mean ranges like the 1900s (1900 to 1999).
In strict counting, a decade can start in any year, and a century is any 100-year span.
In strict calendar counting, the 21st century began on January 1, 2001. The first century ran from year 1 to year 100, so each new century starts with a year ending in 01.
In common speech, many people link centuries to “the 2000s,” which starts in 2000.
Two centuries equal 20 decades.
Reason: 2 × 10 = 20.
Yes. The result often includes decimals when decades don’t divide evenly by 10.
Example: 7 decades ÷ 10 = 0.7 century.
People mix two systems. One is strict counting (centuries start in years ending in 01). The other is common naming (the 1900s, the 2000s). Both show up in books, news, and school lessons.
For decades, people often write “the 1980s” (no apostrophe). For centuries, a common style is “the 20th century.”
For a year range, use clear dates like “1980 to 1989” or “1901 to 2000” to avoid confusion.
The Calculate Box tool to convert decades to centuries uses the open source script Convert.js to convert units of measurement. To use this tool, simply type a decades value in the box and have it instantly converted to centuries.