Oersted (Oe)
The oersted is the CGS unit of magnetic field strength, exactly 1000/(4π) A/m, about 79.58 A/m. In air, a field of 1 Oe produces a flux density of 1 G.
Symbol: Oe
Quantity: magnetic field strength (H field) and coercivity
SI relation: 1 Oe = 79.57747154595 A/m (exact)
Derivation: 1 Oe = 1000/(4π) A/m ≈ 79.577 A/m (exact by definition)
Exact: yes, by definition
History
Named after Hans Christian Ørsted, who discovered in 1820 that an electric current deflects a compass needle.
Typical uses
- Coercivity of magnets in older and US data sheets
- Magnetic recording media
- Physics literature using CGS units
Convert oersteds to other units
| Conversion | 1 Oe equals | Reverse |
|---|---|---|
| oersted to ampere per metre | 79.57747155 A/m | ampere per metre to oersted |
| oersted to kiloampere per metre | 0.07957747155 kA/m | kiloampere per metre to oersted |
| oersted to kilooersted | 0.001 kOe | kilooersted to oersted |
| oersted to ampere per centimetre | 0.7957747155 A/cm | ampere per centimetre to oersted |
Open the Magnetic Field Strength Converter to convert any value between all units.
Sources
- Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Appendix B.8, "oersted".
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). Oersted (Oe). Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/units/oersted/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Oersted (Oe)," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 25, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/units/oersted/