Nanometer (nm)
One billionth of a meter.
What is a nanometer?
- Symbol
- nm
- Quantity
- Length
- Unit system
- SI
- Definition
- One billionth of a meter.
- Exact
- Yes, the value is exact by definition
- Source
- SI Brochure, 9th edition (BIPM, 2019)
Common applications
Used for wavelengths of light, semiconductor feature sizes and the dimensions of molecules and nanoparticles.
Nanometer in other length units
- 1 nm = 0.001 µmMicrometer
- 1 nm = 0.000001 mmMillimeter
- 1 nm = 1e-7 cmCentimeter
- 1 nm = 1e-9 mMeter
- 1 nm = 1e-12 kmKilometer
- 1 nm = 10 ÅÅngström
- 1 nm ≈ 0.00003937007874 milMil (thou)
- 1 nm ≈ 3.937007874e-8 inInch
- 1 nm ≈ 3.280839895e-9 ftFoot
- 1 nm ≈ 1.093613298e-9 ydYard
- 1 nm ≈ 6.213711922e-13 miMile
- 1 nm ≈ 5.399568035e-13 nmiNautical mile
Nanometer quick reference
| Nanometer | Meter | Foot | Micrometer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 nm | = 1e-9 m | ≈ 3.280839895e-9 ft | = 0.001 µm |
| 10 nm | = 1e-8 m | ≈ 3.280839895e-8 ft | = 0.01 µm |
| 100 nm | = 1e-7 m | ≈ 3.280839895e-7 ft | = 0.1 µm |
| 1000 nm | = 0.000001 m | ≈ 0.000003280839895 ft | = 1 µm |
Where the nanometer fits
The next smaller length unit is the ångström (Å). 1 nm = 10 Å, and 1 Å = 0.1 nm.
The next larger length unit is the micrometer (µm). 1 nm = 0.001 µm, and 1 µm = 1000 nm.
Frequently asked questions
- How many meters are in one nanometer?
- One nanometer = 1e-9 m (meters).
- How many feet are in one nanometer?
- One nanometer ≈ 3.280839895e-9 ft (feet).
- How many micrometers are in one nanometer?
- One nanometer = 0.001 µm (micrometers).