Hertz to Megahertz Converter

Enter Frequency Value

Result

MHz

Quick Convert

Conversion Formula

MHz = Hz ÷ 1,000,000

or

MHz = Hz × 0.000001

One megahertz equals 1,000,000 hertz. To convert from hertz to megahertz, divide the hertz value by 1,000,000 or multiply by 0.000001.

Conversion Examples

Example 1: Convert 50 Hz to MHz

Calculation: 50 Hz ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.00005 MHz

Result: 50 Hz = 0.00005 MHz

Example 2: Convert 60 Hz (AC frequency) to MHz

Calculation: 60 Hz ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.00006 MHz

Result: 60 Hz = 0.00006 MHz

Example 3: Convert 1,000,000 Hz to MHz

Calculation: 1,000,000 Hz ÷ 1,000,000 = 1 MHz

Result: 1,000,000 Hz = 1 MHz

Example 4: Convert 2,400,000 Hz (WiFi frequency) to MHz

Calculation: 2,400,000 Hz ÷ 1,000,000 = 2.4 MHz

Result: 2,400,000 Hz = 2.4 MHz

Hertz to Megahertz Conversion Table

Hertz (Hz)	Megahertz (MHz)
1 Hz	0.000001 MHz
10 Hz	0.00001 MHz
50 Hz	0.00005 MHz
60 Hz	0.00006 MHz
100 Hz	0.0001 MHz
500 Hz	0.0005 MHz
1,000 Hz	0.001 MHz
5,000 Hz	0.005 MHz
10,000 Hz	0.01 MHz
20,000 Hz	0.02 MHz
50,000 Hz	0.05 MHz
100,000 Hz	0.1 MHz
500,000 Hz	0.5 MHz
1,000,000 Hz	1 MHz
2,000,000 Hz	2 MHz
5,000,000 Hz	5 MHz
10,000,000 Hz	10 MHz
50,000,000 Hz	50 MHz
100,000,000 Hz	100 MHz
1,000,000,000 Hz	1,000 MHz

Popular Hertz to Megahertz Conversions

Common Value	Hertz (Hz)	Megahertz (MHz)	Application
AC Power (US)	60 Hz	0.00006 MHz	Electrical grid
AC Power (EU)	50 Hz	0.00005 MHz	Electrical grid
Audio Bass	100 Hz	0.0001 MHz	Sound frequency
Audio Mid	1,000 Hz	0.001 MHz	Sound frequency
Audio High	10,000 Hz	0.01 MHz	Sound frequency
Ultrasonic	20,000 Hz	0.02 MHz	Above hearing range
AM Radio Low	530,000 Hz	0.53 MHz	Broadcasting
AM Radio High	1,700,000 Hz	1.7 MHz	Broadcasting
Shortwave	3,000,000 Hz	3 MHz	Radio communication
FM Radio Low	88,000,000 Hz	88 MHz	Broadcasting
FM Radio High	108,000,000 Hz	108 MHz	Broadcasting

What is Hertz (Hz)?

The hertz is the SI (International System of Units) derived unit for frequency. One hertz represents one cycle per second. It measures the number of occurrences of a repeating event per second.

Named after Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, a German physicist who made significant contributions to the study of electromagnetism, the hertz is widely used across various fields including physics, engineering, telecommunications, and music.

Common Uses of Hertz

Sound Frequencies: Human hearing ranges from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Electrical Systems: Power grids operate at 50 Hz or 60 Hz
Mechanical Vibrations: Engine speeds and vibration frequencies
Refresh Rates: Display monitors typically run at 60 Hz or higher
Processor Clock Speeds: Modern CPUs operate in gigahertz (billions of Hz)

What is Megahertz (MHz)?

The megahertz is a unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (1,000,000 Hz). The prefix “mega” comes from the Greek word “megas” meaning “great” and represents 10⁶ in the metric system.

Megahertz is commonly used to measure radio frequencies, computer processor speeds (in older systems), and wireless communication frequencies. It provides a more convenient scale for expressing higher frequencies than using millions of hertz.

Common Uses of Megahertz

Radio Broadcasting: AM radio (0.5-1.7 MHz), FM radio (88-108 MHz)
WiFi: 2.4 GHz (2,400 MHz) and 5 GHz (5,000 MHz) bands
Mobile Networks: Cellular frequencies in various MHz ranges
Medical Imaging: Ultrasound frequencies (1-20 MHz)
Computer Memory: RAM speeds often measured in MHz
Shortwave Radio: International broadcasting (3-30 MHz)

Frequency Conversion Chart

This chart shows the relationship between hertz and megahertz along with other frequency units:

Unit	Symbol	Equivalent in Hz	Equivalent in MHz
Hertz	Hz	1	0.000001
Kilohertz	kHz	1,000	0.001
Megahertz	MHz	1,000,000	1
Gigahertz	GHz	1,000,000,000	1,000
Terahertz	THz	1,000,000,000,000	1,000,000

Related Frequency Conversions

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hertz are in one megahertz?

One megahertz equals exactly 1,000,000 hertz. The prefix “mega” means one million, so 1 MHz = 1,000,000 Hz.

How do I convert hertz to megahertz?

To convert hertz to megahertz, divide the frequency value in hertz by 1,000,000. Alternatively, multiply the hertz value by 0.000001 to get the result in megahertz.

What is the difference between Hz and MHz?

Hertz (Hz) and megahertz (MHz) both measure frequency, but they differ in scale. MHz is used for higher frequencies and is equal to one million Hz. MHz is more convenient for expressing radio frequencies, wireless signals, and high-speed oscillations.

Why is MHz used instead of Hz for radio frequencies?

Radio frequencies typically range from hundreds of thousands to billions of hertz. Using MHz (or GHz for even higher frequencies) makes these numbers more manageable and easier to read. For example, saying “100 MHz” is simpler than “100,000,000 Hz”.

What frequency ranges are measured in hertz vs megahertz?

Hertz is typically used for lower frequencies such as audio (20-20,000 Hz), electrical power (50-60 Hz), and mechanical vibrations. Megahertz is used for radio waves (AM: 0.5-1.7 MHz, FM: 88-108 MHz), wireless communications, and various electronic signals.

Is 1000000 Hz the same as 1 MHz?

Yes, 1,000,000 Hz is exactly equal to 1 MHz. This is a direct conversion based on the metric prefix “mega” which always represents one million (10⁶) of the base unit.

What are common devices that use megahertz frequencies?

Many devices operate in the megahertz range, including FM radios (88-108 MHz), baby monitors (49 MHz or 900 MHz), RFID tags (13.56 MHz), older WiFi routers (2,400 MHz for 2.4 GHz band), remote controls, and various wireless communication devices.

Can I convert MHz back to Hz?

Yes, to convert megahertz back to hertz, multiply the MHz value by 1,000,000. For example, 2.5 MHz × 1,000,000 = 2,500,000 Hz.

What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?

Frequency and wavelength are inversely related. As frequency increases, wavelength decreases. The relationship is expressed as: wavelength = speed of light / frequency. Higher MHz values correspond to shorter wavelengths in electromagnetic radiation.

Are hertz and cycles per second the same?

Yes, hertz and cycles per second are exactly the same. One hertz is defined as one cycle per second. The term “hertz” was adopted as the official SI unit, but “cycles per second” is still occasionally used to describe frequency in simpler terms.

Conversion Steps

Follow these steps to manually convert hertz to megahertz:

Identify the value in hertz: Start with your frequency measurement in Hz.
Divide by 1,000,000: Take the hertz value and divide it by 1,000,000.
Add the MHz unit: Append “MHz” to your result.
Verify your answer: Check that the magnitude makes sense (MHz values should be much smaller than Hz values for the same frequency).

Practical Applications

Radio and Broadcasting

Radio broadcasting relies heavily on megahertz measurements. AM radio stations broadcast between 530 kHz and 1.7 MHz (530,000-1,700,000 Hz), while FM radio operates from 88 to 108 MHz (88,000,000-108,000,000 Hz). When tuning your radio to 101.5 FM, you’re actually tuning to 101,500,000 Hz or 101.5 MHz.

Wireless Communication

Modern wireless devices operate at various frequencies measured in MHz and GHz. WiFi routers use 2.4 GHz (2,400 MHz) and 5 GHz (5,000 MHz) bands. Bluetooth operates around 2,400 MHz. Cell phones use frequencies ranging from 700 MHz to over 2,600 MHz depending on the network and location.

Medical Applications

Medical ultrasound imaging uses frequencies typically between 1-20 MHz. Different frequencies are chosen based on the depth and resolution required: higher frequencies (10-20 MHz) provide better resolution for shallow structures, while lower frequencies (1-5 MHz) penetrate deeper but with less detail.

Computer Systems

While modern processors are measured in gigahertz, many computer components still use megahertz. Memory buses, peripheral interfaces, and older processors operated in the MHz range. For example, DDR memory might operate at 1,600 MHz, and various system clocks run at specific MHz frequencies.

Historical Context

The hertz was named in honor of Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (1857-1894), the German physicist who first conclusively proved the existence of electromagnetic waves. Before 1960, frequency was commonly expressed as “cycles per second” (cps). The International System of Units formally adopted “hertz” in 1960 as part of the effort to standardize scientific measurements globally.

The use of megahertz became more common with the development of radio technology in the early 20th century. As radio frequencies increased beyond thousands of hertz, the megahertz unit provided a practical way to express these higher frequencies. Today, with technology advancing into gigahertz and terahertz ranges, the megahertz remains a fundamental unit in telecommunications and electronics.