Convert Nanometers to Meters
1 nanometer (nm) equals 1 × 10⁻⁹ meters (m).
1 nm = 1e-9 m
Type in either box. Scientific notation works: 1.5e-3.
Converting a list? Use the bulk nanometer to meter converter to paste a column from Excel.
How to Convert Nanometer to Meter
- 1 nm = 1 × 10⁻⁹ m
- 1 m = 1000000000 nm
- Example: convert 15 nm to m: 15 nm = 15 × 1 × 10⁻⁹ m = 1.5 × 10⁻⁸ m
Formula
m = nm ÷ 1000000000
Derivation from SI units:
- 1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m
- SI base unit: the distance light travels in vacuum in 1/299 792 458 s
Both units are defined exactly, so the factor is exact. Nanometer definition: nanometer; Meter definition: meter.
Worked examples
- A reading of 20 nm converts to 2 × 10⁻⁸ m.
20 nm × 1 × 10⁻⁹ = 2 × 10⁻⁸ m - A value of 500 nm is 5 × 10⁻⁷ m.
500 nm × 1 × 10⁻⁹ = 5 × 10⁻⁷ m
Nanometer to Meter conversion table
| Nanometers (nm) | Meters (m) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 nm | 1 × 10⁻¹⁰ m |
| 1 nm | 1 × 10⁻⁹ m |
| 2 nm | 2 × 10⁻⁹ m |
| 5 nm | 5 × 10⁻⁹ m |
| 10 nm | 1 × 10⁻⁸ m |
| 20 nm | 2 × 10⁻⁸ m |
| 50 nm | 5 × 10⁻⁸ m |
| 100 nm | 1 × 10⁻⁷ m |
| 200 nm | 2 × 10⁻⁷ m |
| 380 nm | 3.8 × 10⁻⁷ m |
| 450 nm | 4.5 × 10⁻⁷ m |
| 500 nm | 5 × 10⁻⁷ m |
| 550 nm | 5.5 × 10⁻⁷ m |
| 650 nm | 6.5 × 10⁻⁷ m |
| 700 nm | 7 × 10⁻⁷ m |
| 780 nm | 7.8 × 10⁻⁷ m |
| 1000 nm | 0.000001 m |
Where it's used
Nanometers are used for wavelengths of light (UV, visible, near-IR), while meters appear in building, room and land dimensions. Both measure length and distance, so the conversion is a fixed factor.
Nanometer to other length units
| Conversion | 1 nm equals |
|---|---|
| nanometer to meter | 1 × 10⁻⁹ m |
| nanometer to kilometer | 1 × 10⁻¹² km |
| nanometer to centimeter | 1 × 10⁻⁷ cm |
| nanometer to millimeter | 0.000001 mm |
| nanometer to micrometer | 0.001 µm |
| nanometer to angstrom | 10 Å |
| nanometer to mile | 6.213711922 × 10⁻¹³ mi |
| nanometer to yard | 1.093613298 × 10⁻⁹ yd |
| nanometer to foot | 3.280839895 × 10⁻⁹ ft |
| nanometer to inch | 3.937007874 × 10⁻⁸ in |
| nanometer to mil | 0.00003937007874 mil |
| nanometer to nautical mile | 5.399568035 × 10⁻¹³ nmi |
Frequently asked questions
How many meters are in 1 nanometer?
1 nm = 1 × 10⁻⁹ m.
How do I convert nanometers to meters?
Multiply the value in nm by 1 × 10⁻⁹, or divide it by 1000000000. For example, 15 nm × 1 × 10⁻⁹ = 1.5 × 10⁻⁸ m.
Is the nm to m conversion exact?
Yes. Both units are defined exactly, and 1 nm is exactly 1 × 10⁻⁹ m.
Sources
- The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition (SI Brochure), Bureau International des Poids et Mesures , Table 7, SI prefixes.
- The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition (SI Brochure), Bureau International des Poids et Mesures , Section 2.3.1, base unit definitions.
Last reviewed: . Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.
Cite this page
APA
Scientific Converters. (2026, October 15). Convert Nanometers to Meters. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/length/nanometers-to-meters/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Convert Nanometers to Meters," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 17, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/length/nanometers-to-meters/