Frequency Converter
Convert Hz, kHz, MHz, and GHz with SI prefixes, then check the period T = 1/f. Useful for power, audio, radio, and circuit notes.
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Result
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- Visible firstKeep the input and result positions clear.
- Results firstPut the main number up front and keep the process secondary.
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Convert frequency and period in the same view
Frequency tells you how many cycles happen in one second. The SI unit is hertz, Hz, where 1 Hz is s⁻¹. Larger values are usually written with decimal prefixes such as kHz, MHz, and GHz.
This converter keeps the unit conversion and the period side by side. It helps when a note gives frequency but you also need the timing of one cycle, such as mains power, audio sampling, RF bands, or a circuit clock.
Change the band label, then read the period
- Enter the frequency number first. Use 60 for a 60 Hz power example.
- Set the source unit exactly as it appears: Hz, kHz, MHz, or GHz.
- Choose the target unit you want for comparison. Switch units reverses the source and target fields.
- Read the period card as T = 1/f. The display chooses s, ms, µs, ns, or ps for readability.
Hz, prefixes, and period
- NIST Guide to the SI lists hertz, Hz, as the special name for frequency. It is used for periodic phenomena.
- kHz, MHz, and GHz mean 10³, 10⁶, and 10⁹ Hz. They are decimal SI prefixes, not 1024-based binary prefixes.
- Period is T = 1/f. If f is in Hz, T is in seconds.
- At 0 Hz there is no repeating cycle, so the period cannot be a finite number.
Examples from power, audio, and RF notes
The unit label changes the scale; the Hz value remains the calculation basis.
Do not mix similar-looking units
- GHz, GB, and Gbps describe different quantities: frequency, storage size, and data rate.
- An audio sampling rate such as 44.1 kHz is a recording rate, not the pitch of the sound itself.
- Hz and Bq both have the dimension s⁻¹, but hertz is for periodic phenomena and becquerel is for stochastic radioactive activity.
- Negative frequency values usually belong to a signal-processing convention, not a plain magnitude reading.
Frequency conversion FAQ
How many kHz is 60 Hz?
60 Hz is 0.06 kHz. Divide the Hz value by 1000.
What is the period of 60 Hz?
The period is 1 ÷ 60 s, or about 16.6667 ms.
How many MHz is 2.4 GHz?
2.4 GHz is 2400 MHz because 1 GHz equals 1000 MHz.
Is 44.1 kHz audio the same as a 44.1 kHz tone?
No. A 44.1 kHz sampling rate means 44,100 samples per second. It is not the same as the audible pitch itself.
Why distinguish Hz from Bq if both are s⁻¹?
NIST distinguishes hertz for periodic phenomena and becquerel for stochastic processes such as radioactive decay.
References used
Frequency units and SI prefixes follow NIST Guide to the SI Chapter 4, including the hertz entry, the note distinguishing Hz from Bq, and the SI prefix table.