What the Frequency Converter Does

This frequency converter changes a value between hertz (Hz), kilohertz (kHz), megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz). Enter a number in any unit and read the equivalent in the others instantly.

Frequency means cycles per second, and one hertz equals one cycle per second. The tool is useful for audio engineers checking sample rates and tones, radio and RF hobbyists working with band plans, electronics students, and anyone reading a CPU clock spec or a Wi-Fi channel and wanting it in different units.

How It Works: The Formula

Every conversion uses hertz as the common base. The four units relate to each other by powers of ten:

To convert, first turn your input into hertz, then divide by the target unit's factor. As a single formula: result = (value x factor_of_input_unit) / factor_of_target_unit.

1 kHz = 1,000 Hz (10^3)
1 MHz = 1,000,000 Hz (10^6)
1 GHz = 1,000,000,000 Hz (10^9)
Going up a unit, divide by 1,000; going down a unit, multiply by 1,000

Worked Example: 2.4 GHz to MHz, kHz and Hz

Suppose you have a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal and want it in smaller units. Start by converting to the base: 2.4 GHz x 1,000,000,000 = 2,400,000,000 Hz.

Now divide by each target factor. To MHz: 2,400,000,000 / 1,000,000 = 2,400 MHz. To kHz: 2,400,000,000 / 1,000 = 2,400,000 kHz. The shortcut is faster: each step up or down moves the decimal three places, so 2.4 GHz = 2,400 MHz = 2,400,000 kHz = 2,400,000,000 Hz.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most errors come from miscounting zeros or confusing units that look similar. Watch for these:

Mixing up kHz and MHz: they differ by a factor of 1,000, not 10 or 100
Confusing frequency with data rate: kbps and Mbps measure bits per second, not cycles per second, and do not convert here
Assuming binary scaling: unlike kilobytes, frequency prefixes are always decimal (1 kHz = exactly 1,000 Hz)
Dropping a step: GHz to kHz spans two factors of 1,000, so the value changes by 1,000,000

Where Each Unit Shows Up

Knowing the typical range for each unit helps you sanity-check a result. Audio sits low, while computing and radio reach into the high end.

If a converted value lands far outside the expected range for its field, you probably entered the wrong unit.

Hz: human hearing spans roughly 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz; mains power is 50 or 60 Hz
kHz: AM radio (around 530 to 1,710 kHz) and audio sample rates such as 44.1 kHz
MHz: FM radio (88 to 108 MHz) and older CPU clocks
GHz: modern CPU clocks (about 1 to 5 GHz) and Wi-Fi bands at 2.4 and 5 GHz

Tips for Accurate Conversions

Keep significant figures in mind. If a spec is given as 2.4 GHz, it may be rounded, so the exact channel center could differ slightly; convert the precise figure when accuracy matters.

For quick mental math, remember that the prefixes step in groups of three zeros. Move the decimal point three places per unit jump, count the jumps, and you rarely need a calculator at all for simple cases.