How to Use the Frequency & Wavelength Converter
Select a frequency value and unit (Hz, kHz, MHz, or GHz). The converter instantly shows all four units and calculates the electromagnetic wavelength using the speed of light (299,792,458 m/s). Useful for radio, wireless, and audio engineering work.
Key Frequency Bands for Reference
AM radio: 530–1700 kHz (wavelength 580–1850 ft); FM radio: 88–108 MHz (9–11 ft); Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz (4.9 in / 12.5 cm); Wi-Fi 5 GHz (2.4 in / 6 cm); 5G Sub-6 GHz: 600 MHz–6 GHz; Microwave oven: 2.45 GHz (4.8 in / 12.2 cm).
Wavelength Formula
For electromagnetic waves: λ = c / f, where c = 299,792,458 m/s and f is in Hz. Note: sound waves travel at the speed of sound (~1,125 ft/s or 343 m/s), so acoustic wavelengths are much shorter than radio wavelengths at the same frequency.
Unit Relationships
1 kHz = 1,000 Hz, 1 MHz = 1,000 kHz = 1,000,000 Hz, 1 GHz = 1,000 MHz = 1,000,000,000 Hz. Higher frequency = shorter wavelength = higher photon energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
This converter handles Hz through GHz. For THz, convert: 1 THz = 1,000 GHz. Enter the GHz equivalent and the calculation is identical. For example, 1 THz = 1,000,000 MHz.
Wavelength = wave speed / frequency. Radio waves travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles/s), while sound travels at about 767 mph (343 m/s). At the same frequency, a sound wave's wavelength is about 874,000× shorter than a radio wave's.