What does the 3-digit capacitor code mean?

The first two digits are significant figures and the third is the number of zeros, in picofarads. So 104 = 10 followed by 4 zeros = 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 uF.

How many pF are in a nF or a uF?

1 nF = 1,000 pF. 1 uF = 1,000 nF = 1,000,000 pF. 1 F = 1,000,000 uF.

How do I calculate capacitors in series?

Add the reciprocals, the opposite of resistors: 1/Ct = 1/C1 + 1/C2. Total series capacitance is always smaller than the smallest capacitor.

How do I calculate capacitors in parallel?

Add the values: Ct = C1 + C2. Total parallel capacitance is always larger than the largest capacitor.

Home>Engineering Tools>Capacitor Conversion Calculator

Capacitor Conversion Calculator

Convert between all common capacitor units — picofarads (pF), nanofarads (nF), microfarads (μF), millifarads (mF), and farads (F). Also includes the 3-digit capacitor code decoder and series/parallel capacitor calculator.

Unit Converter

Value

From Unit

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μF

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Scientific

3-Digit Capacitor Code Decoder

Enter the 3-digit code printed on ceramic capacitors (e.g. 104, 472, 221)

Code (e.g. 104)

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Capacitors in Series

1/C_total = 1/C₁ + 1/C₂ (like resistors in parallel)

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Capacitors in Parallel

C_total = C₁ + C₂ (like resistors in series)

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Common Capacitor Values and Codes

Code	Value (μF)	Value (nF)	Value (pF)	Common Use
100	0.00001	0.01	10	RF tuning
101	0.0001	0.1	100	RF coupling
102	0.001	1	1,000	Filter timing
103	0.01	10	10,000	Decoupling
104	0.1	100	100,000	Bypass, decoupling
105	1.0	1,000	1,000,000	Bulk decoupling
220	0.000022	0.022	22	Crystal load
221	0.00022	0.22	220	Timing circuits
222	0.0022	2.2	2,200	555 timer timing
223	0.022	22	22,000	Filtering
331	0.00033	0.33	330	Audio coupling
471	0.00047	0.47	470	RF bypass
472	0.0047	4.7	4,700	555 timer
473	0.047	47	47,000	Filtering
474	0.47	470	470,000	Power filtering

Capacitor Unit Conversion Reference

From	To	Multiply By	Example
pF	nF	÷ 1,000	100 pF = 0.1 nF
nF	pF	× 1,000	100 nF = 100,000 pF
nF	μF	÷ 1,000	100 nF = 0.1 μF
μF	nF	× 1,000	10 μF = 10,000 nF
μF	pF	× 1,000,000	0.1 μF = 100,000 pF