Frequency Units Conversion Calculator

Convert between hertz, kilohertz, megahertz and gigahertz instantly.
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Convert Frequency

1 GHz = 1,000 MHz = 1,000,000 kHz = 1,000,000,000 Hz
50 Hz (mains, India/EU)
2.4 GHz (WiFi)
100 MHz (FM radio)
Enter a value and press Convert.

Where Common Frequencies Sit (log scale)

Frequency Units, From Mains Power to Microwaves

Frequency (measured in hertz, Hz — cycles per second) spans an enormous range in electronics: from the 50/60 Hz AC power grid, through kilohertz-range switching power supplies and audio, into the megahertz range used by radio broadcasting and many microcontroller clocks, up to the gigahertz range used by WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular signals.

UnitSymbolValue in HzTypical use
HertzHz1Mains power (50/60 Hz), low-frequency signals
KilohertzkHz10³Switching power supplies, AM radio, audio
MegahertzMHz10⁶FM radio, microcontroller clocks, VHF/UHF
GigahertzGHz10⁹WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular, radar

Real-World Applications & Fully-Explained Examples

Worked examples — explained in full

1. 50 Hz mains frequency to kHz. 50/1000=0.05 kHz.
2. 2.4 GHz WiFi band to MHz. 2.4×1000=2400 MHz.
3. 100 MHz FM radio to Hz. 100×1,000,000=100,000,000 Hz.
4. 16 MHz Arduino clock to kHz. 16×1000=16,000 kHz.
5. 500 kHz switching converter frequency to MHz. 500/1000=0.5 MHz.
6. 5 GHz WiFi band compared to 2.4 GHz. 5/2.4≈2.08× the frequency — the 5 GHz band offers more channel bandwidth but shorter range/penetration than 2.4 GHz for the same transmit power.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert Hz to kHz?

Divide by 1000: e.g. 50,000 Hz = 50 kHz.

How do I convert MHz to GHz?

Divide by 1000: e.g. 2400 MHz = 2.4 GHz.

What frequency is mains power in India and most of the world?

50 Hz is standard in India, most of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. North America, parts of South America, and a few other regions use 60 Hz instead.

What frequency does WiFi use?

The two most common WiFi bands are 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz; newer WiFi 6E adds a 6 GHz band. Each offers different tradeoffs between range/penetration (better at lower frequency) and available bandwidth/speed (better at higher frequency).

What is a typical microcontroller clock speed?

Common values range from a few MHz for low-power microcontrollers up to several hundred MHz for more powerful ones; classic Arduino boards typically run at 16 MHz, while modern ARM-based boards often run at 48-480 MHz or higher.

Why do switching power supplies specify frequency in kHz?

Higher switching frequency (typically tens of kHz to a few MHz) allows smaller inductors and capacitors in the converter, reducing size and cost, at the tradeoff of higher switching losses — see the Switching Loss calculator for that tradeoff in detail.

What is the relationship between frequency and period?

They are reciprocals: f=1/T. A 50 Hz signal has a period of 1/50=0.02 seconds (20 milliseconds) — see the Frequency & Period calculator for this specific conversion.

How precise should frequency conversions be for RF work?

RF and wireless applications often require very precise frequency values (sometimes to the Hz level even at GHz frequencies) due to tight regulatory channel allocations, so always use the full precision your application demands rather than rounding prematurely.

What frequency range does audio cover?

Human hearing is roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz, which is why audio equipment specifications are usually given directly in Hz and kHz rather than needing MHz or GHz.

Does higher frequency always mean more data/bandwidth?

Generally yes in wireless systems — higher-frequency bands typically have more available spectrum bandwidth for a given percentage allocation, allowing higher data rates, though at the cost of reduced range and worse penetration through obstacles compared to lower frequencies at the same power.

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