Nanometers to Centimeters
Type a value in either box to convert between nanometers and centimeters. The factor is 1e-07.
| Nanometers | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 1 nm | 1e-07 cm |
| 2 nm | 2e-07 cm |
| 3 nm | 3e-07 cm |
| 5 nm | 5e-07 cm |
| 10 nm | 1e-06 cm |
| 25 nm | 2.5e-06 cm |
| 50 nm | 5e-06 cm |
| 100 nm | 1e-05 cm |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Nanometers field.
- The Centimeters figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Centimeters field converts back to Nanometers the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Nanometers to Centimeters formula
Converting nanometers to centimeters is a single multiplication by 1e-07.
cm = nm × 1e-07
Why this factor: the nanometer and the centimeter are both defined against the meter, so dividing one definition by the other gives 1e-07 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 1e-07 — or use the Centimeters to Nanometers converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Take 12 nm and multiply by the factor 1e-07: the result is 1.2e-06 cm.
12 nm × 1e-07 = 1.2e-06 cm
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a nanometer?
A nanometer is one billionth of a meter — the scale of molecules and visible light wavelengths.
Definition: Exactly 1×10⁻⁹ meter by SI prefix definition.
Where it is used: Semiconductor process nodes, optical coatings, and wavelengths (visible light is roughly 380–750 nm).
What is a centimeter?
A centimeter is one hundredth of a meter, the everyday metric unit for body and object measurements.
Definition: Exactly 0.01 meter by SI prefix definition.
Where it is used: Height, clothing sizes, rainfall, paper and screen dimensions across the metric world.
Nanometers vs Centimeters
The nanometer and the centimeter belong to the same family of units, so converting between them is usually a matter of shifting a decimal point or applying a small whole-number factor.
Frequently asked questions
How many centimeters are in a nanometer?
One nanometer equals 1e-07 centimeters.
What is the formula to convert nanometers to centimeters?
Multiply the number of nanometers by 1e-07. To reverse it, divide by 1e-07 instead.
How do I convert centimeters back to nanometers?
Divide by 1e-07, which is the same as multiplying by 10000000.
How many centimeters are in 10 nanometers?
10 nm works out to 1e-06 cm.
How is the nanometer defined?
Exactly 1×10⁻⁹ meter by SI prefix definition.