Inductance Converter

Inductance unit conversion for electronics and coil values

An inductance converter helps you translate a coil or inductor value from one unit to another without mental math or conversion mistakes. This is most useful when you are reading component markings, comparing datasheets, entering values into a simulator, or matching a part to a circuit design that expects a different unit. Inductance is measured in henries (H), but real-world parts are commonly specified in millihenries (mH) and microhenries (µH). High-frequency RF parts often use nanohenries (nH), while very small parasitic values can be expressed in picohenries (pH).

This calculator is locked to one job: converting inductance values between H, mH, µH, nH, and pH. It does not calculate inductance from coil geometry, core material, turns, or frequency. It also does not compute reactance, resonance, or impedance. If you only need a clean unit conversion, this is the fastest path because it uses direct scaling from the base unit (henry).

How to use it is straightforward. Enter the inductance number as you have it, select the unit it is currently expressed in, then pick the unit you want to convert to. The primary output shows the converted value in your chosen target unit. Under that, you get a quick reference set showing the same inductance expressed in all supported units. This is useful when you are cross-checking a BOM, matching parts from different suppliers, or sanity-checking an order before you buy.

Assumptions and how to use this calculator

• The conversion is exact scaling only: 1 H = 1,000 mH = 1,000,000 µH = 1,000,000,000 nH = 1,000,000,000,000 pH.
• Values are treated as real numbers; the tool does not model tolerance, temperature drift, saturation, or frequency dependence.
• Inputs should be non-negative. A value of 0 converts to 0 in all units and is allowed for completeness.
• Large and very small results may be shown in scientific notation to stay readable and avoid long strings of zeros.
• Rounding in the display is for readability only. The underlying conversion is done using standard multipliers based on the henry.

Common questions

What is the difference between mH, µH, and nH?

They are the same physical quantity with different prefixes. mH is one thousandth of a henry, µH is one millionth, and nH is one billionth. Designers choose the unit that makes the number easy to read. For example, 0.0047 H is usually written as 4.7 mH, and 0.0000047 H is usually written as 4.7 µH.

Why do inductors in different catalogs use different units?

Because the unit is a presentation choice. Power inductors and chokes are commonly in mH or µH. RF inductors are commonly in nH because the values are small. Some datasheets prefer a unit that avoids decimals, while others match industry conventions for that component family.

Can I convert a value written as 4R7 or 4700 the way capacitors are marked?

This calculator expects a numeric value plus an explicit unit selection. If your part marking is shorthand, convert the marking to a number first, then choose the unit. For example, if you know the part is 4.7 µH, enter 4.7 and select µH as the source unit. If it is 4700 nH, enter 4700 and select nH.

My result shows scientific notation. Is that wrong?

No. Scientific notation is used when the converted value is extremely large or extremely small, because it is more readable than many zeros. The conversion itself is still correct. If you prefer a different unit, pick one that puts the value into a normal range, such as µH instead of H for small inductors.

Does inductance depend on frequency, so is a unit conversion enough?

Ideal inductance is a constant, so unit conversion is always valid. Real inductors have parasitics, losses, and self-resonance that make their behavior frequency dependent, but the inductance unit conversion still remains a simple scaling of the stated inductance value. If you are working near resonance or at high frequency, you need additional checks beyond unit conversion.