Metric Prefixes Converter
Quick answer: Choose a starting unit and a target unit, then enter a value. Common conversions: 1 k = 0.001 M; 1 k = 0.000001 G; 1 k = 1,000,000 m. This converter covers 21 metric prefixes units.
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Use the Metric Prefixes Converter
Metric Prefixes formula and what each symbol means
target = value × (factor of starting unit ÷ factor of target unit), where each factor is the unit value in Y.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| value | The number you want to convert |
| factor | The unit’s size expressed in the base unit (Y) |
Metric Prefixes examples
k to M
10 k = 0.01 M.
k to G
10 k = 0.00001 G.
k to m
10 k = 10,000,000 m.
How to calculate Metric Prefixes step by step
- Choose the starting unit and the target unit.
- Enter your value.
- Read the converted value, plus the conversion factor in both directions.
Popular metric prefixes conversions
- Kilo to Mega converter
- Kilo to Giga converter
- Kilo to Milli converter
- Kilo to Micro converter
- Kilo to Nano converter
- Mega to Kilo converter
- Mega to Giga converter
- Mega to Milli converter
- Mega to Micro converter
- Mega to Nano converter
- Giga to Kilo converter
- Giga to Mega converter
- Giga to Milli converter
- Giga to Micro converter
- Giga to Nano converter
- Milli to Kilo converter
How to read your Metric Prefixes result
Each metric prefix is a power of ten, so converting between them means moving the decimal point. Giga is 10⁹, mega 10⁶, kilo 10³, milli 10⁻³, micro 10⁻⁶ and nano 10⁻⁹. Neighbouring SI prefixes in this range differ by a factor of 1,000.
| UNIT | SYMBOL | EQUALS | VALUE OF 1 K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yotta | Y | 1 Y = 1×10²⁴ Y | 1×10⁻²¹ Y |
| Zetta | Z | 1 Z = 1×10²¹ Y | 1×10⁻¹⁸ Z |
| Exa | E | 1 E = 1×10¹⁸ Y | 1×10⁻¹⁵ E |
| Peta | P | 1 P = 1×10¹⁵ Y | 1×10⁻¹² P |
| Tera | T | 1 T = 1,000,000,000,000 Y | 1×10⁻⁹ T |
| Giga | G | 1 G = 1,000,000,000 Y | 0.000001 G |
| Mega | M | 1 M = 1,000,000 Y | 0.001 M |
| Kilo | k | 1 k = 1,000 Y | 1 k |
| Hecto | h | 1 h = 100 Y | 10 h |
| Deca | da | 1 da = 10 Y | 100 da |
| Base unit (no prefix) | — | 1 — = 1 Y | 1,000 — |
| Deci | d | 1 d = 0.1 Y | 10,000 d |
| Centi | c | 1 c = 0.01 Y | 100,000 c |
| Milli | m | 1 m = 0.001 Y | 1,000,000 m |
| Micro | µ | 1 µ = 0.000001 Y | 1,000,000,000 µ |
| Nano | n | 1 n = 1×10⁻⁹ Y | 1,000,000,000,000 n |
| Pico | p | 1 p = 1×10⁻¹² Y | 1×10¹⁵ p |
| Femto | f | 1 f = 1×10⁻¹⁵ Y | 1×10¹⁸ f |
| Atto | a | 1 a = 1×10⁻¹⁸ Y | 1×10²¹ a |
| Zepto | z | 1 z = 1×10⁻²¹ Y | 1×10²⁴ z |
| Yocto | y | 1 y = 1×10⁻²⁴ Y | 1×10²⁷ y |
Common mistakes when calculating Metric Prefixes
- Mixing milli (10⁻³) and micro (10⁻⁶).
- Moving the decimal point in the wrong direction.
- Using a lower-case m where a capital M is meant: m is milli, M is mega.
Metric Prefixes FAQ
How many kilo are in 1 mega?
1 mega is 1,000 kilo.
How many milli are in 1 base unit?
There are 1,000 milli in 1 base unit.
What is the symbol for micro?
The Greek letter µ (mu).
What is the base unit for metric prefixes?
This converter uses yotta (Y) as the common base unit: every value is first converted to it and then to the target unit.
How do I convert between two metric prefixes units?
Choose the starting and target units, enter the value and read the result. By hand: convert to the base unit with the table, then divide by the target unit factor.
How many mega are in 1 kilo?
1 k = 0.001 M.
How many giga are in 1 kilo?
1 k = 0.000001 G.
How many milli are in 1 kilo?
1 k = 1,000,000 m.
Which metric prefixes units does this converter support?
It covers 21 units: yotta (Y), zetta (Z), exa (E), peta (P), tera (T), giga (G), mega (M), kilo (k), hecto (h), deca (da), base unit (—), deci (d), centi (c), milli (m), micro (µ), nano (n), pico (p), femto (f), atto (a), zepto (z), yocto (y).
How accurate is the metric prefixes converter?
Results are calculated at full double precision and shown to about 8 significant figures. Round the answer to the precision of your original measurement; a result cannot be more accurate than the number you started with.
More in Metric Prefixes converters
- Mega to Nano Converter
- Micro to Kilo Converter
- Mega to Milli Converter
- Micro to Mega Converter
- Mega to Micro Converter
- Micro to Milli Converter
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Method, review and disclaimer
Edited by: Hemant Kumar and Anjita Rai, founders of ToolsVault (SEO and content professional, not a licensed adviser). Method: this tool runs in your browser using the formula shown on this page; the numbers you enter are not sent to our servers. Sources: BIPM: SI prefixes, NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8: conversion factors