Home › Unit Converters › Capacitance Converter

Capacitance Converter

Convert a capacitance between farads, millifarads, microfarads, nanofarads and picofarads, and see the matching 3-digit code. Or type the code printed on a capacitor, like 104 or 472J, to decode it.

Last updated: October 24, 2026

What do you have?

A value with a unitA code printed on the capacitor

Capacitance

Unit

Capacitor code

Examples: 104, 472J, 221K, 4R7, 2n2, 100n

Enter your values to see the result.

How to use the Capacitance Converter

Choose your input: a value with a unit, or a code printed on the part.
Enter the value and unit (for example 100 nF), or type the code (for example 104).
Read every unit: farads, mF, µF, nF and pF, plus the 3-digit code.
Add a tolerance letter such as J or K after a code to see the allowed range.
Copy the results or download the code table as CSV.

How capacitance units relate

The farad (F) is a very large unit, so real capacitors are usually rated in microfarads (µF), nanofarads (nF) or picofarads (pF). Each step is a factor of 1,000:

1 F = 1,000 mF = 1,000,000 µF · 1 µF = 1,000 nF · 1 nF = 1,000 pF

Example: 0.047 µF × 1,000 = 47 nF, and 47 nF × 1,000 = 47,000 pF. Schematics and parts lists often mix styles, so 0.1 µF, 100 nF and 100,000 pF are all the same part.

Reading the 3-digit capacitor code

Small ceramic and film capacitors are too tiny for full text, so they carry a code in picofarads. The first two digits are the significant figures and the third digit is how many zeros to add.

Third digit	Multiplier	Example	Value
0	× 1	220	22 pF
1	× 10	101	100 pF
2	× 100	222	2,200 pF = 2.2 nF
3	× 1,000	103	10 nF
4	× 10,000	104	100 nF = 0.1 µF
5	× 100,000	105	1 µF
6	× 1,000,000	476	47 µF
8	× 0.01	478	0.47 pF
9	× 0.1	479	4.7 pF

A trailing letter is the tolerance: F ±1%, G ±2%, J ±5%, K ±10%, M ±20%, Z +80/−20%; B, C and D are ±0.1, ±0.25 and ±0.5 pF for very small values. Electrolytic capacitors print the value and voltage directly (for example 470µF 25V).

Tips

R and letter codes. 4R7 means 4.7 pF. In IEC style the unit letter replaces the decimal point: 4n7 = 4.7 nF, 2µ2 = 2.2 µF, 100n = 100 nF.
Don't misread "m". On old parts "mF" or "MFD" sometimes meant microfarads, not millifarads. If a tiny part says 10 MFD, it is almost certainly 10 µF.
Codes are nominal values. Ceramic capacitors (especially Y5V and Z5U types) can lose a large share of their capacitance with DC bias or temperature, so measure if precision matters.
Replacing a part? Match the capacitance, then make sure the voltage rating is equal or higher and the dielectric type suits the circuit.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert µF to nF?

Multiply microfarads by 1,000. For example, 0.1 µF × 1,000 = 100 nF. To go from nF to µF, divide by 1,000.

How many pF are in 1 nF?

1 nF equals 1,000 pF, and 1 µF equals 1,000,000 pF.

What value is a 104 capacitor?

104 means 10 followed by 4 zeros picofarads: 100,000 pF, which is 100 nF or 0.1 µF. It is one of the most common decoupling capacitors.

What does the letter after a capacitor code mean?

It is the tolerance. J is ±5%, K is ±10%, M is ±20% and Z is +80%/−20%. So 472J is 4.7 nF ±5%.

What does 4R7 mean on a capacitor?

The R stands for the decimal point in picofarads, so 4R7 is 4.7 pF.

Is mF millifarad or microfarad?

In SI units mF is millifarad (0.001 F). Some older capacitors and schematics used mF or MFD to mean microfarads, so check the size of the part and its circuit.

Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?

Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.

Related tools

See all 67 Fuel Economy & Other Converters →