Frequency Converter
Convert between hertz, kilohertz, megahertz, gigahertz, and RPM.
Cómo funciona
This converter handles frequency — how often a repeating event occurs per unit of time — across hertz, kilohertz, megahertz, gigahertz, and RPM, converting your value to hertz (the SI base unit) first, then from hertz into your target unit.
One hertz (Hz) equals one complete cycle per second — whether that cycle is a sound wave vibration, an electrical signal oscillation, or a rotating shaft completing one full turn. Kilohertz (kHz), megahertz (MHz), and gigahertz (GHz) are the standard metric multiples, representing thousands, millions, and billions of cycles per second respectively.
RPM (revolutions per minute) measures rotational speed specifically, common in mechanical and automotive contexts like engine speed, hard drive spin rate, or motor speed. Since hertz measures cycles per second and RPM measures revolutions per minute, the conversion is: 1 Hz = 60 RPM (multiply hertz by 60 to get RPM, or divide RPM by 60 to get hertz).
Everyday frequency reference points: household electrical current in most countries runs at 50 or 60 Hz, FM radio broadcasts operate in the megahertz range (88-108 MHz), Wi-Fi commonly operates around 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, and a car engine idling might run around 800-1000 RPM (about 13-17 Hz).
Frequency is inversely related to period (the time for one complete cycle): period = 1 ÷ frequency. A signal at 100 Hz has a period of 0.01 seconds (10 milliseconds) — higher frequency always means a shorter period between repetitions, and vice versa.
Frequency conversions come up across audio engineering (sound wave pitch), electronics (signal and clock speeds), computing (processor clock speed, measured in GHz), and mechanical engineering (rotational speed of motors, engines, and machinery) — the same underlying "how often does this repeat" concept applies across all these different physical contexts.
Human hearing typically spans roughly 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz), which is why audio equipment specifications commonly quote a frequency response range within or around those bounds — frequencies below 20 Hz (infrasound) and above 20 kHz (ultrasound) exist but generally fall outside typical human perception.
How is RPM related to hertz?
1 Hz = 60 RPM, since both measure cycles or revolutions per unit of time.
What is a hertz, precisely?
One complete cycle per second — the SI standard unit of frequency, applicable to anything that repeats periodically, from sound waves to rotating machinery.
What frequency does household electricity run at?
Most countries use either 50 Hz or 60 Hz for household AC power, depending on the region — for example, the US uses 60 Hz while much of Europe uses 50 Hz.
How is frequency related to period?
They're inversely related: period = 1 ÷ frequency — a higher frequency means a shorter time between repeating cycles.
Why is processor speed measured in gigahertz?
A computer processor's clock cycles (the rate at which it can execute basic operations) are extremely fast, in the billions per second, making gigahertz (billions of hertz) the natural unit for expressing that speed.
What RPM does a typical car engine idle at?
Roughly 800-1000 RPM is common for idling, which converts to about 13-17 Hz.
How many hertz are in 1 kilohertz?
1,000 hertz make 1 kilohertz, following the standard metric prefix meaning of "kilo."
Can I convert between more than two frequency units at once?
Yes — the "Quick reference" table below the main converter shows your entered value converted into every other supported frequency unit simultaneously.
What frequency range can humans typically hear?
Roughly 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz), though this range narrows somewhat with age — audio equipment specs are often quoted relative to this range.
What is ultrasound in terms of frequency?
Sound with a frequency above roughly 20 kHz, beyond typical human hearing range — used in applications like medical imaging and some animal communication.
Why do Wi-Fi and radio signals get described by their frequency band?
The frequency determines how the signal propagates and how much data it can carry, so naming a technology by its operating frequency (like 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi) directly communicates key technical characteristics.
How many megahertz are in 1 gigahertz?
1,000 megahertz make 1 gigahertz, following the standard metric prefix relationship between mega (million) and giga (billion).