This electrical resistance converter changes resistance between ohms, kiloohms, megaohms, milliohms, microohms, abohms and statohms. The metric units convert by powers of ten: 1 kΩ = 1,000 Ω and 1 MΩ = 1,000 kΩ. The CGS units are far apart: 1 abohm is 10⁻⁹ Ω, while 1 statohm is about 8.98755 × 10¹¹ Ω.
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How to use the electrical resistance converter
- Enter the resistance, for example 4.7 from a resistor marked in kΩ.
- In the electrical resistance converter, choose its unit and the target unit, such as kΩ to Ω.
- Read the electrical resistance converter result: 4.7 kΩ = 4,700 Ω.
For kΩ to Ω, multiply by 1,000. For MΩ to kΩ, multiply by 1,000. For mΩ to Ω, divide by 1,000.
What is electrical resistance?
Electrical resistance opposes the flow of current. The SI unit is the ohm (Ω); by Ohm’s law, resistance = voltage ÷ current. Resistor values commonly range from milliohms to megaohms.
Conversion formula
The electrical resistance converter stores every unit as a multiple of the base unit, the ohm (Ω). To convert:
value in target unit = value × (factor of source unit ÷ factor of target unit)
where each factor is the size of the unit in ohms.
Common electrical resistance conversions
| From | To | 1 unit equals |
|---|---|---|
| ohm (Ω) | kiloohm (kΩ) | 0.001 kΩ |
| kiloohm (kΩ) | ohm (Ω) | 1,000 Ω |
| ohm (Ω) | megaohm (MΩ) | 1 × 10−6 MΩ |
| milliohm (mΩ) | ohm (Ω) | 0.001 Ω |
Electrical resistance converter worked example
Convert 25 ohms to kiloohms:
- Factor of Ω = 1 Ω
- Factor of kΩ = 1,000 Ω
- 25 × 1 ÷ 1,000 = 0.025 kΩ
Electrical resistance unit reference
| Unit | Symbol | Group | Equals (Ω) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohm | Ω | SI | 1 |
| Kiloohm | kΩ | SI | 1,000 |
| Megaohm | MΩ | SI | 1,000,000 |
| Milliohm | mΩ | SI | 0.001 |
| Microohm | µΩ | SI | 1 × 10−6 |
| Abohm | abΩ | CGS-EMU | 1 × 10−9 |
| Statohm | statΩ | CGS-ESU | 898,755,178,737 |
Reverse factors for each electrical resistance unit
The electrical resistance converter reference table gives each unit in ohms. To go the other way, divide by that factor; the list below does the division for you.
- Kiloohm (kΩ), SI: 1 kΩ = 1,000 Ω, so 1 Ω = 0.001 kΩ.
- Megaohm (MΩ), SI: 1 MΩ = 1,000,000 Ω, so 1 Ω = 1 × 10−6 MΩ.
- Milliohm (mΩ), SI: 1 mΩ = 0.001 Ω, so 1 Ω = 1,000 mΩ.
- Microohm (µΩ), SI: 1 µΩ = 1 × 10−6 Ω, so 1 Ω = 1,000,000 µΩ.
- Abohm (abΩ), CGS-EMU: 1 abΩ = 1 × 10−9 Ω, so 1 Ω = 1 × 109 abΩ.
- Statohm (statΩ), CGS-ESU: 1 statΩ = 8.98755 × 1011 Ω, so 1 Ω = 1.11265 × 10−12 statΩ.
Series and parallel resistance
Resistors in series add: R = R₁ + R₂ + … In parallel, the reciprocals add: 1/R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + …, and for two resistors R = R₁R₂ ÷ (R₁ + R₂). This is the electrical resistance calculator parallel rule; convert every value to the same unit first:
| R₁ | R₂ | Series | Parallel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Ω | 220 Ω | 320 Ω | 68.75 Ω |
| 1 kΩ | 1 kΩ | 2 kΩ | 500 Ω |
| 4.7 kΩ | 10 kΩ | 14.7 kΩ | 3.197 kΩ |
| 1 MΩ | 100 kΩ | 1.1 MΩ | 90.91 kΩ |
The parallel result is always smaller than the smallest resistor.
Resistance from Ohm’s law
Resistance is voltage divided by current: R = V ÷ I. A 12 V supply driving 20 mA needs 600 Ω in total; if an LED drops 2 V, the series resistor is 10 V ÷ 0.02 A = 500 Ω. Power dissipated is P = I²R, here 0.2 W. A wire’s resistance follows R = ρL ÷ A. Use the Ohm’s law calculator, the resistor calculator for color bands and the electrical resistivity converter for materials.
Tolerance in ohms
Resistors are sold with a tolerance. A 4.7 kΩ part at ±5% can be anywhere from about 4,465 to 4,935 Ω. The electrical resistance converter turns kΩ into Ω so you can work out the band. Measure a few parts and most will fall well inside it, but design for the full range.
Tighter parts cost a little more. A ±1% 4.7 kΩ resistor stays between about 4,653 and 4,747 Ω, which matters in voltage dividers and filters where the ratio sets the output. For pull-up resistors and LED current limits, ±5% is usually fine. Remember that resistance also drifts with temperature, listed on the data sheet in ppm/°C.
Related converters and calculators
Related electrical tools:
- Ohm’s law calculator: V, I, R
- Resistor calculator: color codes
- Electrical conductance converter: S and µS
- Electrical resistivity converter: Ω·m and Ω·cm
- Voltage converter: V and mV
Sources
BIPM: SI Brochure; NIST Special Publication 811, Appendix B.
Questions about this calculator
How many ohms are in a kΩ?
1,000 Ω = 1 kΩ exactly.
How do I convert kΩ to Ω?
Multiply by 1,000. For example, 2.2 kΩ = 2,200 Ω.
How do I convert MΩ to kΩ?
Multiply by 1,000. For example, 1.5 MΩ = 1,500 kΩ.
How do I calculate two resistors in parallel?
R = R₁R₂ ÷ (R₁ + R₂). 100 Ω and 220 Ω give 68.75 Ω.
What is a statohm?
The CGS-Gaussian unit of resistance, about 8.98755 × 10¹¹ Ω.
Check the assumptions and units before relying on a result. Financial, tax and health estimates do not replace advice for your individual circumstances.
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