SI Prefix Converter
Convert a value between SI prefixes, such as nF to µF, kΩ to MΩ or mA to A, with engineering notation, the prefix table and the best-fit prefix.
SI prefixes
| Prefix | Symbol | Power of ten | Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| tera | T | 10¹² | 1000,000,000,000 |
| giga | G | 10⁹ | 1000,000,000 |
| mega | M | 10⁶ | 1000,000 |
| kilo | k | 10³ | 1000 |
| no prefix (base unit) | — | 10⁰ | 1 |
| milli | m | 10⁻³ | 0.001 |
| micro | µ | 10⁻⁶ | 0.000001 |
| nano | n | 10⁻⁹ | 0.000000001 |
| pico | p | 10⁻¹² | 0.000000000001 |
| femto | f | 10⁻¹⁵ | 0.000000000000001 |
Common conversions
| Value | In | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 4700 nF | µF | 4.7 |
| 0.0000047 F | µF | 4.7 |
| 2200 µF | mF | 2.2 |
| 4.7 kΩ | Ω | 4700 |
| 1 MΩ | kΩ | 1000 |
| 250 mA | A | 0.25 |
| 33 pF | nF | 0.033 |
| 0.5 GHz | MHz | 500 |
How to convert
Subtract the powers of ten: the value in the new prefix is the old value × 10^(from − to). From nano (−9) to micro (−6) that is 10⁻³, so 4,700 nF = 4.7 µF. Each step of three in the exponent moves the decimal point three places.
Prefix case matters
m is milli and M is mega; k is kilo and K is not an SI prefix; p is pico and P is peta. The prefix goes in front of the unit symbol with no space or dot, as in kΩ, µF and mA.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert nF to µF?
Divide by 1,000: 1 µF = 1,000 nF. So 4,700 nF = 4.7 µF. Going the other way, multiply by 1,000.
What is the difference between m and M?
A lowercase m is milli (one thousandth) and a capital M is mega (one million). They are a factor of a billion apart, so 1 mΩ is a thousandth of an ohm and 1 MΩ is a million ohms. Keep the case exactly as written on the label.
Why does the answer show µ and not u?
The SI symbol for micro is the Greek letter µ. Data sheets and keyboards often write it as u, as in 4.7uF, and it means the same thing.
What is engineering notation?
Scientific notation with the exponent kept to a multiple of three, so it lines up with the prefixes: 4.7 × 10⁻⁶ F is 4.7 µF. The best-fit result picks the prefix that leaves a number from 1 to 999.
Related
Scientific Notation ConverterCapacitance ConverterResistance ConverterBinary CalculatorConversion Centre