Choose a Measurement
Select a measurement and convert between different units
Single conversion
To convert from Micrometer (μm) to Nanometer (nm), use the following formula:
Let's convert 5 Micrometer (μm) to Nanometer (nm).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 Micrometer (μm) is equal to Nanometer (nm).
Here are some quick reference conversions from Micrometer (μm) to Nanometer (nm):
| Micrometers | Nanometers |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 μm | nm |
| 0.001 μm | nm |
| 0.1 μm | nm |
| 1 μm | nm |
| 2 μm | nm |
| 3 μm | nm |
| 4 μm | nm |
| 5 μm | nm |
| 6 μm | nm |
| 7 μm | nm |
| 8 μm | nm |
| 9 μm | nm |
| 10 μm | nm |
| 20 μm | nm |
| 30 μm | nm |
| 40 μm | nm |
| 50 μm | nm |
| 100 μm | nm |
| 1000 μm | nm |
| 10000 μm | nm |
For all Length converters, choose units using the From/To dropdowns above.
A micrometer (μm), commonly referred to as a micron, is a unit of length in the metric system.
It is extremely small, equal to one millionth of a meter (10-6 m).
The micrometer may be tiny, but it's indispensable wherever extreme precision is required. Here are some examples of how it's used across different industries:
Electronics manufacturing: Parts like transistors, traces, and other microchip features are measured in micrometers. Modern CPUs and memory chips depend on manufacturing at these microscopic scales.
Aerospace engineering: Components are machined to micrometer tolerances, ensuring they fit and perform reliably under extreme stress and temperature conditions.
Medical devices: Stents, catheters, and many surgical tools must be produced with micrometer-level accuracy to ensure patient safety and proper function.
Textiles: Fiber diameters—such as wool, silk, and synthetic fibers—are measured in micrometers to assess softness, strength, and the best uses for each material.
Small unit, significant impact: micrometer-level precision underpins quality, safety, and performance across many fields.
It can be hard to grasp just how small a micrometer is.
To put this micrometer size comparison into perspective, consider these examples:
These comparisons highlight the incredible microscopic scale the micrometer represents, far smaller than anything the naked eye can perceive.
Yes, they are the same.
The official name for this unit in the International System of Units (SI) is the micrometer; however, it is often still referred to by its older name, the micron.
The term "micron" was officially retired in 1967 to standardize terminology and prevent confusion. Nonetheless, it remains commonly used in various industries and scientific contexts due to habit.
Therefore, when you encounter a measurement in microns, it is equivalent to a micrometer (1×10-6 meters).
A nanometer (nm) is a tiny unit of measurement in the metric system.
To give you an idea of its scale, one nanometer is equal to one-billionth of a meter (10-9 m). The plural form is nanometers.
A nanometer is so small that it's challenging to visualize. To put it in perspective:
A single strand of human hair is enormous in comparison, measuring approximately 80,000 to 100,000 nanometers in diameter.
Similarly, a standard sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick.
This comparison highlights the incredible nanometer scale at which modern science operates.
The nanometer is central to nanotechnology, which works with matter at the atomic and molecular scale.
Modern electronics are a good example: transistors on computer chips are measured in nanometers.
A smaller process node (for example, a 5 nm chip) enables manufacturers to pack more transistors into the same area, resulting in faster and more energy-efficient devices, such as smartphones and laptops.
The prefix "nano" originates from the ancient Greek word "νάνος" (nános), which means "dwarf."
This origin perfectly captures the essence of the nanometer's tiny size. It's a fitting name for a unit used to measure things far too small for the human eye to see.