Wavenumbers to nanometers
Type a value in cm⁻¹ to get it in nm instantly.
18,181.82nm
That's 1.82× as long as thermal infrared, while a microwave oven is 6,710× longer. That is outside human vision, at 0.06819 eV per photon.
What it means
What color is that?
Wavelengths are for a vacuum. In glass or water light slows down and the wavelength shortens, while the frequency stays put.
The math
How to convert cm⁻¹ to nm
Wavelength, frequency and energy are linked by λ × f = c and E(eV) = 1239.84 ÷ λ(nm), so shorter waves carry more energy.
Example: 550 cm⁻¹ = 18,181.8 nm.
Every unit
Your light in every unit
Tables
cm⁻¹ to nm conversion table
| cm⁻¹ | nm |
|---|---|
| 200 cm⁻¹ | 50,000 nm |
| 300 cm⁻¹ | 33,333.3 nm |
| 400 cm⁻¹ | 25,000 nm |
| 450 cm⁻¹ | 22,222.2 nm |
| 500 cm⁻¹ | 20,000 nm |
| 550 cm⁻¹ | 18,181.8 nm |
| 600 cm⁻¹ | 16,666.7 nm |
| 650 cm⁻¹ | 15,384.6 nm |
| 700 cm⁻¹ | 14,285.7 nm |
| 800 cm⁻¹ | 12,500 nm |
| 1,000 cm⁻¹ | 10,000 nm |
| 1,550 cm⁻¹ | 6,451.61 nm |
nm to cm⁻¹ conversion table
| nm | cm⁻¹ |
|---|---|
| 200 nm | 50,000 cm⁻¹ |
| 300 nm | 33,333.3 cm⁻¹ |
| 400 nm | 25,000 cm⁻¹ |
| 450 nm | 22,222.2 cm⁻¹ |
| 500 nm | 20,000 cm⁻¹ |
| 550 nm | 18,181.8 cm⁻¹ |
| 600 nm | 16,666.7 cm⁻¹ |
| 650 nm | 15,384.6 cm⁻¹ |
| 700 nm | 14,285.7 cm⁻¹ |
| 800 nm | 12,500 cm⁻¹ |
| 1,000 nm | 10,000 cm⁻¹ |
| 1,550 nm | 6,451.61 cm⁻¹ |
Quick answers
Quick answers
- How many nm is 1 cm⁻¹?
- 1 cm⁻¹ is 10,000,000 nm.
- How many nm is 10 cm⁻¹?
- 10 cm⁻¹ is 1,000,000 nm.
- How many nm is 550 cm⁻¹?
- 550 cm⁻¹ is 18,181.8 nm.
The units
About these units
Wavenumbers (cm⁻¹)
Waves per centimeter, the unit of infrared spectroscopy.
Nanometers (nm)
The standard unit for light: visible colors run from 380 to 750 nm.
Keep going