How many nF are in 1 µF?
1 µF = 1000 nF = 1,000,000 pF. Micro (10⁻⁶) is a thousand times nano (10⁻⁹), so microfarad to nanofarad is always a factor of 1000, and so is nanofarad to picofarad.
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Capacitor converter (pF, nF, µF)
Datasheets, schematics and part markings rarely agree on a unit. This capacitor converter switches any value between pF, nF, µF, mF and F and shows the 3-digit code printed on a capacitor of that value. Below the converter is a chart of common values in pF, nF and µF.
Examples
A plain number; choose its unit below.
From
To
Capacitance in nF
1000 nF
- Picofarads
- 1,000,000 pF
- Microfarads
- 1 µF
- Millifarads
- 0.001 mF
- Farads
- 0.000001 F
- 3-digit capacitor code
- 105
- Letter code
- 1µ0
Each step is a factor of 1000: 1 F = 1000 mF, 1 mF = 1000 µF, 1 µF = 1000 nF, 1 nF = 1000 pF.
How do you convert µF to nF?
Multiply by 1000: 1 µF = 1000 nF = 1,000,000 pF. So 0.1 µF = 100 nF, and the other way, 4.7 nF = 0.0047 µF. Each step from pF to nF to µF to mF to F is a factor of 1000.
Capacitance conversion formula
The units differ only by their SI prefix, and each prefix is a factor of 1000 from the next.
1 F = 1000 mF = 10⁶ µF = 10⁹ nF = 10¹² pF
- pF
- picofarad, 10⁻¹² F
- nF
- nanofarad, 10⁻⁹ F
- µF
- microfarad, 10⁻⁶ F
- mF
- millifarad, 10⁻³ F
To convert, multiply by 1000 for each step toward the smaller unit and divide by 1000 for each step toward the larger one:
nF = µF × 1000 pF = nF × 1000 µF = pF ÷ 1,000,000
Worked examples
Example 1: 0.1 µF to nF and pF
0.1 µF × 1000 = 100 nF, and × 1000 again = 100,000 pF. Written as a capacitor code that is 10 followed by four zeros: 104.
Example 2: 4700 pF to nF and µF
4700 pF ÷ 1000 = 4.7 nF, and ÷ 1000 again = 0.0047 µF. Its code is 472 (47 followed by two zeros).
Example 3: a 2200 µF electrolytic in mF and F
2200 µF ÷ 1000 = 2.2 mF = 0.0022 F. The 3-digit pF code stops at 990 µF, so parts this large print the value in µF.
Capacitor value chart: µF to nF to pF
This capacitor conversion chart lists E6 standard values from 10 pF to 10 µF in each unit, with the 3-digit code printed on the part.
| pF | nF | µF | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0.01 | 0.00001 | 100 |
| 15 | 0.015 | 0.000015 | 150 |
| 22 | 0.022 | 0.000022 | 220 |
| 33 | 0.033 | 0.000033 | 330 |
| 47 | 0.047 | 0.000047 | 470 |
| 68 | 0.068 | 0.000068 | 680 |
| 100 | 0.1 | 0.0001 | 101 |
| 150 | 0.15 | 0.00015 | 151 |
| 220 | 0.22 | 0.00022 | 221 |
| 330 | 0.33 | 0.00033 | 331 |
| 470 | 0.47 | 0.00047 | 471 |
| 680 | 0.68 | 0.00068 | 681 |
| 1000 | 1 | 0.001 | 102 |
| 1500 | 1.5 | 0.0015 | 152 |
| 2200 | 2.2 | 0.0022 | 222 |
| 3300 | 3.3 | 0.0033 | 332 |
| 4700 | 4.7 | 0.0047 | 472 |
| 6800 | 6.8 | 0.0068 | 682 |
| 10,000 | 10 | 0.01 | 103 |
| 15,000 | 15 | 0.015 | 153 |
| 22,000 | 22 | 0.022 | 223 |
| 33,000 | 33 | 0.033 | 333 |
| 47,000 | 47 | 0.047 | 473 |
| 68,000 | 68 | 0.068 | 683 |
| 100,000 | 100 | 0.1 | 104 |
| 150,000 | 150 | 0.15 | 154 |
| 220,000 | 220 | 0.22 | 224 |
| 330,000 | 330 | 0.33 | 334 |
| 470,000 | 470 | 0.47 | 474 |
| 680,000 | 680 | 0.68 | 684 |
| 1,000,000 | 1000 | 1 | 105 |
| 1,500,000 | 1500 | 1.5 | 155 |
| 2,200,000 | 2200 | 2.2 | 225 |
| 3,300,000 | 3300 | 3.3 | 335 |
| 4,700,000 | 4700 | 4.7 | 475 |
| 6,800,000 | 6800 | 6.8 | 685 |
| 10,000,000 | 10,000 | 10 | 106 |
One of each unit, in every other unit
Read across a row: the unit on the left equals the values to its right.
| 1 of | in pF | in nF | in µF | in mF | in F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pF | 1 | 0.001 | 0.000001 | 1 × 10⁻⁹ | 1 × 10⁻¹² |
| 1 nF | 1000 | 1 | 0.001 | 0.000001 | 1 × 10⁻⁹ |
| 1 µF | 1,000,000 | 1000 | 1 | 0.001 | 0.000001 |
| 1 mF | 1,000,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1000 | 1 | 0.001 |
| 1 F | 1,000,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1000 | 1 |
Where unit mix-ups happen
A common mistake is a factor of 1000 between nF and µF when a schematic, a datasheet and a distributor listing each use a different unit for the same part: 0.01 µF, 10 nF and 10,000 pF are one capacitor, code 103. The 3-digit code on a ceramic or film capacitor is always in pF, so 474 is 470,000 pF = 470 nF = 0.47 µF, never 474 of anything. Before you search a catalog or compare two parts lists, convert every value to one unit.
Glossary
- Farad (F)
- The SI unit of capacitance: one coulomb of charge per volt.
- Picofarad (pF)
- 10⁻¹² F. Small ceramic and RF capacitors, and stray capacitance on a PCB.
- Nanofarad (nF)
- 10⁻⁹ F, or 1000 pF. Common for decoupling and timing capacitors.
- Microfarad (µF)
- 10⁻⁶ F, or 1000 nF, often typed as uF. Bulk ceramic, tantalum and electrolytic capacitors.
- Millifarad (mF)
- 10⁻³ F, or 1000 µF. Rarely printed on parts; large electrolytics are labeled in µF.
- 3-digit code
- Two significant digits and a number of zeros in pF: 104 = 100,000 pF = 100 nF.
Related guides
- Capacitor code calculator: decode 104K, 2A473J and 4n7 with tolerance and voltage.
- Capacitive reactance calculator: what the converted value does at a given frequency.
- RC time constant calculator: R × C once the units agree.
- Capacitor energy calculator: stored energy from C and V.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert uF to nF and nF to uF?
Multiply by 1000. 0.1 µF × 1000 = 100 nF, and 0.022 µF × 1000 = 22 nF. To go from nF to µF, divide by 1000.
Is 0.1 µF the same as 100 nF?
Yes. 0.1 µF = 100 nF = 100,000 pF, the same part, marked 104 on a ceramic capacitor.
How do I convert pF to nF and µF?
Divide by 1000 for nF and by 1,000,000 for µF. 4700 pF = 4.7 nF = 0.0047 µF.
How do I convert nF to pF and uF to pF?
Multiply by 1000 for nF and by 1,000,000 for µF. 4.7 nF = 4700 pF, and 0.1 µF = 100,000 pF.
What is 1000 pF in µF?
1000 pF = 1 nF = 0.001 µF, coded 102 on a capacitor.
What is a millifarad (mF)?
A thousandth of a farad, or 1000 µF. A 2200 µF electrolytic is 2.2 mF, though large capacitors are usually labeled in µF instead.
Why do some schematics write 0.01 µF instead of 10 nF?
They are the same value (10 nF = 10,000 pF). Some parts lists use only µF and pF while others use nF, so convert before matching parts.
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