Electric Current Converter

Electric Current Converter for amps (A), milliamps (mA), and microamps (µA)

This electric current converter is built for one job: converting a known current value from one unit into another, quickly and reliably. The most common situation is reading a current from a multimeter, a datasheet, a battery charger, or a circuit diagram, then needing it in a different unit to compare with a component limit, a fuse rating, a power supply spec, or a sensor output. Instead of doing mental math and risking a factor-of-1,000 mistake, you can enter the value once and get consistent conversions.

The calculator uses amps (A) as the base unit and converts between a small set of units that covers most real-world use. Milliamps (mA) are common for small electronics and USB devices. Microamps (µA) show up in low-power sensors, sleep current, and leakage measurements. Nanoamps (nA) are less common but relevant for ultra-low-power designs and certain measurement instruments. Kiloamps (kA) are used in high-current contexts like fault current discussions and some industrial electrical scenarios. You select the unit you have, select the unit you want, and the tool returns both the direct conversion and a multi-unit reference so you can sanity-check the magnitude.

To use it, enter your current value, choose the “From unit” that matches your number, then choose the “To unit” you need. The primary result shows the converted value in the target unit. Beneath that, you will see the same current expressed across all supported units. That extra reference is there to prevent the most common error in current conversions: mixing up milli and micro, or forgetting that a change of prefix changes the value by powers of ten. If your converted number seems surprising, compare it across units and confirm the scale matches your expectations.

Assumptions and how to use this calculator

• The conversion is purely unit-based and assumes the same physical current; it does not infer current from voltage, resistance, or power.
• Amps (A) are treated as the base unit; all prefixes are converted using standard SI scaling factors.
• Zero current is allowed, since many measurements include standby or no-load conditions.
• Negative current values are rejected in this tool to keep the output aligned with common “magnitude” use cases and typical consumer measurements.
• Results are shown with practical rounding; for very large or very small values, use the full multi-unit list to interpret scale.

Common questions

What is the difference between A, mA, and µA?

They are the same quantity (electric current) expressed with different SI prefixes. 1 amp equals 1,000 milliamps, and 1 milliamp equals 1,000 microamps. That means 1 amp equals 1,000,000 microamps. The unit choice is about readability. A small sensor might draw 15 µA, which is easier to read than 0.000015 A.

Why do current conversions often go wrong by a factor of 1,000?

Because milli (m) and micro (µ) are easy to confuse, and the scaling jump between them is 1,000. If you read 250 µA and treat it as 250 mA, you are off by 1,000 times. This is one reason the calculator shows the same value across multiple units so you can quickly spot whether the order of magnitude makes sense.

Can I convert AC current differently than DC current?

Not for unit conversion. Amps are amps. AC versus DC matters for interpretation and measurement method, but the unit scaling between A, mA, µA, nA, and kA is identical. If you are comparing AC ratings, make sure your input value is already the correct form (often RMS for AC measurements), then convert the units.

What should I enter if my meter shows “0.35” and the dial is on mA?

Enter 0.35 as the value and pick “Milliamps (mA)” as the From unit. Then select the To unit you need. For example, 0.35 mA equals 0.00035 A and equals 350 µA. The key is that the meter range selection is part of the unit, not part of the number.

How can I improve accuracy if my value is an estimate?

Unit conversion itself is exact, but the input measurement might not be. Use the most precise reading you have, including decimals, and double-check the unit shown on the meter or datasheet. If the value is fluctuating, use a stable average or a typical reading for comparisons, and keep the multi-unit list visible so you do not accidentally compare values in different prefixes.