Nanometers to Meters (nm to m) Converter
A scientific calculator for the nano-scale. Instantly convert between **nanometers (nm)**, **micrometers (µm)**, **millimeters (mm)**, and **meters (m)** by entering a value in any field.
How to Convert Nanometers to Meters
The conversion between nanometers (nm) and meters (m) is a simple base-10 relationship. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.
The Conversion Formula
The relationship is defined as:
1 Nanometer (nm) = 0.000000001 Meters (m)
In scientific notation, this is much easier to write:
Therefore, to convert from nanometers to meters, you **divide the nanometer value by 1,000,000,000** (one billion).
- Formula:
m = nm / 1,000,000,000 - Example:
550 nm / 1,000,000,000 = 0.00000055 m(or 5.5 x 10-7 m)
To convert from meters to nanometers, you **multiply the meter value by 1,000,000,000**.
- Formula:
nm = m × 1,000,000,000 - Example:
0.001 m × 1,000,000,000 = 1,000,000 nm
Understanding the Metric Scale
It's helpful to see the "steps" between these units. Each prefix (milli-, micro-, nano-) is 1,000 times smaller than the one before it.
- 1 Meter = 1,000 Millimeters (mm)
- 1 Millimeter = 1,000 Micrometers (µm)
- 1 Micrometer = 1,000 Nanometers (nm)
This is why our calculator includes all these units, allowing you to convert `550 nm` to `0.55 µm` or `0.00055 mm` instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the formula for nm to meters?
The formula is: Meters = Nanometers / 1,000,000,000. It is much easier to write this in scientific notation: m = nm × 10⁻⁹.
How many nanometers in a meter?
There are **1,000,000,000 (one billion)** nanometers in one meter.
What is a nanometer used to measure?
Nanometers are used in science and engineering to measure things on the molecular and atomic scale. This includes the wavelength of visible light (e.g., green light is ~550 nm), the width of a DNA strand (~2.5 nm), and the smallest transistors in computer chips.