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Instantly convert between farads, millifarads, microfarads, nanofarads, and picofarads. Ideal for capacitor selection, circuit design, and electronics engineering calculations.
Reference table of commonly used capacitor values across different unit scales.
| Farads (F) | Millifarads (mF) | Microfarads (µF) | Nanofarads (nF) | Picofarads (pF) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000,000 | Supercapacitor |
| 0.001 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | Large electrolytic |
| 0.0001 | 0.1 | 100 | 100,000 | 100,000,000 | Motor start capacitor |
| 0.000047 | 0.047 | 47 | 47,000 | 47,000,000 | Audio coupling |
| 0.00001 | 0.01 | 10 | 10,000 | 10,000,000 | Power supply filter |
| 0.000001 | 0.001 | 1 | 1,000 | 1,000,000 | Timing circuit |
| 0.0000001 | 0.0001 | 0.1 | 100 | 100,000 | Decoupling (100 nF) |
| 0.000000047 | 0.000047 | 0.047 | 47 | 47,000 | Ceramic bypass |
| 0.00000001 | 0.00001 | 0.01 | 10 | 10,000 | RF filter |
| 0.000000001 | 0.000001 | 0.001 | 1 | 1,000 | Small ceramic |
| 0.0000000001 | 0.0000001 | 0.0001 | 0.1 | 100 | RF coupling |
| 0.000000000047 | 0.000000047 | 0.000047 | 0.047 | 47 | RF tuning |
| 0.00000000001 | 0.00000001 | 0.00001 | 0.01 | 10 | High-freq filter |
| 0.000000000001 | 0.000000001 | 0.000001 | 0.001 | 1 | Parasitic capacitance |
| 5 | 5,000 | 5,000,000 | 5 × 10⁹ | 5 × 10¹² | Energy storage supercap |
Capacitance is the ability of a component or circuit to collect and store electrical energy in the form of an electric field. It is measured in farads (F), the SI unit named after the English scientist Michael Faraday. A capacitor with a capacitance of one farad stores one coulomb of charge when one volt is applied across its terminals.
In practice, one farad is an extremely large amount of capacitance. Most electronic components use sub-units: microfarads (µF) for power-supply electrolytics, nanofarads (nF) for small film and ceramic capacitors, and picofarads (pF) for RF and high-frequency circuits. The millifarad (mF) is occasionally encountered in supercapacitor specifications but is rarely used in general electronics.
Capacitors are found in virtually every electronic device. They smooth power supplies, filter signals, set timing intervals in oscillator circuits, couple AC signals between amplifier stages, and store energy for camera flashes and defibrillators. The type of capacitor -- electrolytic, ceramic, film, tantalum, or supercapacitor -- determines its capacitance range, voltage rating, frequency response, and physical size. Understanding how to convert between capacitance units is essential for reading datasheets, interpreting schematic diagrams, and selecting the right component for a given application.
Each unit has a factor relative to farads: F = 1, mF = 10³, µF = 10⁶, nF = 10⁹, pF = 10¹². To convert, multiply the value by the ratio of these factors.
1 µF = 1,000 nF
47 µF × 1,000 = 47,000 nF
1 µF = 1,000,000 pF
4,700 pF ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.0047 µF
1 µF = 1,000,000 pF
0.22 µF × 1,000,000 = 220,000 pF
Each step between adjacent units (F → mF → µF → nF → pF) is exactly a factor of 1,000. Going down the scale (toward pF), multiply by 1,000 per step. Going up the scale (toward F), divide by 1,000 per step. Count the steps and shift the decimal point three places per step.
| Microfarads (µF) | Nanofarads (nF) | Common Application |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001 | 1 | RF matching network |
| 0.01 | 10 | High-frequency filter |
| 0.047 | 47 | Ceramic bypass cap |
| 0.1 | 100 | IC decoupling standard |
| 0.22 | 220 | Signal coupling |
| 0.47 | 470 | Audio filter |
| 1 | 1,000 | Timing RC circuit |
| 4.7 | 4,700 | Audio coupling |
| 10 | 10,000 | Power supply smoothing |
| 100 | 100,000 | Bulk decoupling |
| Nanofarads (nF) | Picofarads (pF) | 3-Digit Code |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001 | 1 | 010 |
| 0.01 | 10 | 100 |
| 0.047 | 47 | 470 |
| 0.1 | 100 | 101 |
| 0.22 | 220 | 221 |
| 0.47 | 470 | 471 |
| 1 | 1,000 | 102 |
| 4.7 | 4,700 | 472 |
| 10 | 10,000 | 103 |
| 100 | 100,000 | 104 |
| Farads (F) | Microfarads (µF) | Application |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 100,000 | RTC backup power |
| 0.47 | 470,000 | LED flash backup |
| 1 | 1,000,000 | Memory backup |
| 5 | 5,000,000 | Pulse power supply |
| 10 | 10,000,000 | Regenerative braking |
| 100 | 100,000,000 | Grid energy storage |
| 3000 | 3,000,000,000 | EV energy recovery |
Selecting the right capacitor requires comparing datasheets that may express values in different units. Quick conversion prevents component selection errors.
Different regions and manufacturers use different preferred units. European schematics favor nF while American designs jump between µF and pF.
A misplaced decimal when converting units can mean choosing a capacitor 1,000x too large or too small, causing circuit malfunction or component damage.
Formulas like RC time constant (T = R × C) and resonant frequency (f = 1/2π√LC) require capacitance in consistent base units for accurate results.
Some older documents use "mF" to mean microfarads. In modern SI notation, mF is millifarads (10³ µF). Always check the context to avoid a 1,000x error.
Each step between adjacent units shifts three decimal places. A common error is shifting only one or two places when converting between non-adjacent units like µF to pF (six places).
The three-digit capacitor code gives values in picofarads, not nanofarads or microfarads. "104" = 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF.
Writing 0.000000000001 F is error-prone. Use 1 pF or 1 × 10¹² F instead to keep your calculations clear and verifiable.
When converting to a smaller unit the numeric value must increase, and vice versa. If your answer goes the wrong direction, you multiplied when you should have divided (or the reverse).
These are different scales of capacitance. 1 µF (microfarad) equals 1,000 nF (nanofarads) and 1,000,000 pF (picofarads). Each step is a factor of 1,000. European schematics favor nF notation, while American designs typically jump between µF and pF.
The first two digits are the significant figures and the third digit is the number of zeros to add, all in picofarads. For example, '104' means 10 followed by four zeros = 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF. The code '472' means 47 followed by two zeros = 4,700 pF = 4.7 nF.
One farad stores one coulomb of charge per volt. That is an enormous amount of charge for most circuits. A 1 F capacitor charged to 5 V stores 12.5 joules of energy. Most everyday capacitors operate in the microfarad or picofarad range, which is why sub-units are far more common in practice.
It depends on the application. Power-supply filter capacitors can often be increased without harm. Timing and oscillator circuits require precise values because capacitance directly affects frequency. Decoupling capacitors are tolerant within about 2x. Always match or exceed the voltage rating.
Electrolytic capacitors are polarized, offer high capacitance (1 µF to thousands of µF), and are used for power filtering. Ceramic capacitors are non-polarized, available from 1 pF to about 100 µF, and excel at high-frequency decoupling because of their low parasitic inductance.
Some do, some don't. Electrolytic and tantalum capacitors are polarized and must be connected with correct polarity or they can fail catastrophically. Ceramic, film, and mica capacitors are non-polarized and can be connected either way. Always check the markings or datasheet.
Temperature changes the dielectric properties of a capacitor. Ceramic capacitors with X7R or Y5V dielectrics can lose up to 80% of rated capacitance at temperature extremes. C0G/NP0 ceramics are stable within ±30 ppm/°C. Film capacitors offer moderate stability, and electrolytic capacitors dry out and lose capacitance at high temperatures over time.
Supercapacitors (also called ultracapacitors) store energy in an electric double layer rather than a dielectric. They achieve capacitance from 0.1 F to over 3,000 F but have low voltage ratings (typically 2.5-2.7 V per cell). They bridge the gap between conventional capacitors and batteries, offering fast charge/discharge and millions of cycles.
This capacitance converter is provided for informational and educational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, always verify critical values against manufacturer datasheets and use professional-grade instruments for precise measurements. UnitTables is not responsible for errors resulting from the use of this tool.