Frequency counts how often something repeats each second. Audio and radio use hertz, motors and engines use revolutions per minute, and rotating-machinery engineers often use radians per second (angular frequency).
How to use the Frequency Converter
- Pick the unit you are starting from in the From menu and type your value.
- Pick the unit you want in the To menu. The heading changes to match – for example “Hertz to Kilohertz Converter”.
- The most common frequency units are shown below at the same time, so you can compare them at a glance.
- Type into any result to convert backwards, then use Copy results – the copied text starts with the heading for your chosen units.
Results update as you type. Everything is calculated in your browser.
How it works
Every frequency unit is defined by an exact factor relative to the hertz (the base unit). The calculator first turns the value you type into hertz, then turns that into the unit you picked in the “To” menu and into each of the common units below it. This two-step method means any unit can be converted to any other – 9 units are available in each menu – and you can type into any field, including a result, to work in the other direction. Changing a unit menu keeps the quantity the same and just re-expresses it, and the page heading and copied results follow your choice.
How to convert frequency units
- Choose the unit you have in the From menu and type the value, for example 50 Hz.
- Choose the unit you want in the To menu, for example kilohertz. The page heading changes to “Hertz to Kilohertz Converter”.
- The calculator multiplies by the hertz factor of the “from” unit and divides by the factor of the “to” unit: 50 Hz × 1 ÷ 1,000 = 0.05 kHz.
1 hertz in common units
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| Kilohertz (kHz) | 0.001 |
| Megahertz (MHz) | 1 × 10-6 |
| Gigahertz (GHz) | 1 × 10-9 |
| Revolutions per minute (rpm) | 60 |
| Cycles per minute (cpm) | 60 |
| Radians per second (rad/s) | 6.2831853 |
| Degrees per second (°/s) | 360 |
Hertz conversion table
| Hertz | kHz | MHz | GHz | rpm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.001 | 1 × 10-6 | 1 × 10-9 | 60 |
| 50 | 0.05 | 5 × 10-5 | 5 × 10-8 | 3,000 |
| 60 | 0.06 | 6 × 10-5 | 6 × 10-8 | 3,600 |
| 100 | 0.1 | 0.0001 | 1 × 10-7 | 6,000 |
| 1,000 | 1 | 0.001 | 1 × 10-6 | 60,000 |
What is a hertz?
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency: one cycle per second, named after Heinrich Hertz. Mains electricity is 50 or 60 Hz.
Formula
1 Hz = 0.001 kHz1 Hz = 1 × 10^-6 MHz1 Hz = 1 × 10^-9 GHz1 Hz = 60 rpm1 Hz = 60 cpmWorked example
Inputs — From: 50 Hz.
Results — To = 0.05 kHz; Megahertz = 0.00005 MHz; Gigahertz = 0.00000005 GHz; Revolutions per minute = 3,000 rpm; Cycles per minute = 3,000 cpm; Radians per second = 314.15926536 rad/s; Degrees per second = 18,000 °/s; Period (one cycle) = 0.02 s.
Frequently asked questions
How many rpm is 1 Hz?
60 rpm.
What is angular frequency?
ω = 2π × f, measured in rad/s.
Is cps the same as Hz?
Yes, one cycle per second is one hertz.
How do I change the units?
Pick any unit in the From and To menus. The value is converted in place, and the heading changes to show your conversion, for example “Hertz to Kilohertz Converter”.
Can I type into any field?
Yes. Every field is editable, so you can start from whichever unit you have.
How many units can I convert between?
9 frequency units, from the everyday to the specialised.
Which units are exact?
All factors here are exact by definition except astronomical and similar reference values, which use internationally agreed constants.
What formula does the Frequency Converter use?
1 Hz = 0.001 kHz.