Metric Prefix & Scientific Notation Converter
Convert numbers between scientific notation, engineering notation, standard decimal format, and SI metric prefixes from femto to tera.
Input Value & Prefix
Multi-Format Representation
Complete SI Prefix Conversion Ladder
| Prefix | Symbol | Factor | Converted Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tera | T | 10¹² | 0.0000047 T |
| Giga | G | 10⁹ | 0.0047 G |
| Mega | M | 10⁶ | 4.7 M |
| Kilo | k | 10³ | 4,700 k |
| Base Unit | — | 10⁰ | 4,700,000 |
| Milli | m | 10⁻³ | 4,700,000,000 m |
| Micro | µ | 10⁻⁶ | 4.7 × 10¹² µ |
| Nano | n | 10⁻⁹ | 4.7 × 10¹⁵ n |
| Pico | p | 10⁻¹² | 4.7 × 10¹⁸ p |
About this tool
How to use it
- Type or paste any numerical quantity into the Numerical Value field (supports decimal integers, floating points, fractions, or computer E-notation).
- Select the source SI metric prefix and an optional physical measurement unit (Meters, Grams, Watts, Volts, Hertz, etc.).
- Choose your target conversion prefix to see direct unit scaling.
- Click Convert Notation & Prefixes to inspect scientific notation (a × 10ᵇ), engineering notation, standard decimal expansions, and the full SI prefix ladder.
Why it matters
Translating between microscopic nanometer/picofarad scales and astronomical terawatt/gigabyte quantities is prone to decimal place errors. This converter standardizes quantities into mathematically rigorous scientific notation while displaying intuitive SI unit prefixes and engineering notation for electronics and physics.
When to use it
Use this converter when solving physics and chemistry homework problems, sizing electronic components (capacitors in pF/µF, resistors in kΩ/MΩ), formatting engineering specifications, or converting computer data sizes.
Good to know
Prefix factors follow standard International System of Units (SI) decimal base-10 definitions (1 kilo = 1,000; 1 mega = 1,000,000). For binary computing prefixes (kibi = 1,024, mebi = 1,048,576), use IEC binary standards.
Common questions
What is the difference between scientific notation and engineering notation?
Scientific notation normalizes the coefficient 'a' such that 1 ≤ |a| < 10 with any integer exponent (e.g. 4.7 × 10⁶). Engineering notation restricts exponents strictly to multiples of 3 (..., 10⁻⁶, 10⁻³, 10⁰, 10³, 10⁶, ...), allowing direct alignment with standard SI metric prefixes like milli, micro, kilo, and mega.
What does the 'e' or 'E' in a number mean (e.g. 4.7e+6)?
The 'e' stands for 'exponent of 10'. In computer notation and scientific calculators, 4.7e6 means 4.7 × 10⁶ (4,700,000), while 3.2e-4 means 3.2 × 10⁻⁴ (0.00032).
What are all the standard SI metric prefixes and powers of 10?
Standard metric prefixes include: Tera (T, 10¹²), Giga (G, 10⁹), Mega (M, 10⁶), Kilo (k, 10³), Hecto (h, 10²), Deka (da, 10¹), Base Unit (10⁰), Deci (d, 10⁻¹), Centi (c, 10⁻²), Milli (m, 10⁻³), Micro (µ, 10⁻⁶), Nano (n, 10⁻⁹), Pico (p, 10⁻¹²), and Femto (f, 10⁻¹⁵).
How do you convert from a smaller metric prefix to a larger metric prefix?
Subtract the destination exponent from the starting exponent and multiply the numerical value by 10 to that difference. For example, converting 500 millimeters (10⁻³) to meters (10⁰): -3 - 0 = -3, so 500 × 10⁻³ = 0.5 meters.
Why is micro abbreviated with the Greek letter mu (µ)?
Because the Latin letter 'm' was already assigned to milli (10⁻³), the International System of Units adopted the Greek letter mu (µ) to represent micro (10⁻⁶). In ASCII text where 'µ' is unavailable, 'u' is commonly substituted (e.g. 10uF).