Nanofarad to Picofarad Converter
What Is a Nanofarad?
The nanofarad (nF) equals 10⁻⁹ farads. It is the middle-range capacitance unit used for ceramic capacitors in filtering and timing.
What Is a Picofarad?
The picofarad (pF) equals 10⁻¹² farads. It is the smallest common capacitance unit, used in RF and high-frequency circuit design.
Nanofarad to Picofarad Formula
The conversion formula is:
pF = nF × 1,000
Exact: 1 nF = 1,000 pF (metric prefix relationship).
Worked Example
Convert 4.7 nanofarad (4.7 nF capacitor (common value)):
- Calculate: 4.7 → 4,700 picofarad
Common Use Cases
- Ceramic capacitor selection: The three-digit code system (e.g., 103 = 10 nF = 10,000 pF) requires converting between nF and pF to match markings to schematic values.
- EMC filtering: Electromagnetic compatibility filters on data lines typically use 100 pF to 10 nF capacitors to suppress high-frequency interference without degrading signal integrity.
- Sensor interfaces: Capacitive sensors (touch, humidity, proximity) often measure changes in the 1–100 pF range, while the reference capacitor may be specified in nanofarads.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a capacitor code of 102 mean?
The code 102 represents 10 followed by two zeros in picofarads: 1,000 pF, which equals 1 nF. Similarly, 103 = 10,000 pF = 10 nF, and 101 = 100 pF = 0.1 nF. The last digit always indicates the number of trailing zeros in picofarads.
When should I use nanofarad notation versus picofarad?
Use whichever avoids decimals or very large numbers. Values from 1,000 pF to 999,000 pF are cleaner in nanofarads (1 nF to 999 nF). Below 1,000 pF, picofarads are more readable. Many European schematics prefer nanofarads throughout, using decimal notation like 0.1 nF instead of 100 pF.
Does the dielectric type affect the nF/pF conversion?
No, the nF-to-pF conversion is purely a unit prefix change (factor of 1,000) and is independent of the capacitor technology. However, the dielectric type (C0G, X7R, Y5V) affects the actual capacitance at different temperatures and voltages, which is a separate concern from unit conversion.
How do capacitor markings relate to nF and pF?
Ceramic capacitors use a 3-digit code: first two digits are significant figures, third is the multiplier (in pF). Example: '472' = 47 × 10² = 4,700 pF = 4.7 nF. '104' = 100,000 pF = 100 nF.
Conversion Formula
To convert nanofarad to picofarad, multiply by 1000:
Value in picofarads = value in nanofarad × 1000
Example: 1 nanofarad × 1000 = 1000 picofarads
Nanofarads to picofarads Conversion Table
Reference table with common nanofarads to picofarads conversions. All values calculated with high precision.
Nanofarads to Picofarads Table
1 to 100000
Picofarads to Nanofarads Table
1000 to 1 × 108
Related Capacitance Converters
Explore other capacitance conversion tools: