Convert Angstrom to Nanometer (Å → nm)

The angstrom is the historical unit for atomic and molecular dimensions, equal to one ten-billionth of a meter.

Angstrom

Nanometer

0.1

1 Å0.1 nmNIST · BIPM accuracy

Angstrom to Nanometer Conversion Table

10 common values

Angstrom	Nanometer
1 Å	0.1 nm
5 Å	0.5 nm
10 Å	1 nm
25 Å	2.5 nm
50 Å	5 nm
100 Å	10 nm
250 Å	25 nm
500 Å	50 nm
1,000 Å	100 nm
5,000 Å	500 nm

How to Convert Angstrom to Nanometer Manually

Step by Step

Converting angstroms to nanometers is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.

1
Take your value in angstroms
Start with the number of angstroms (Å) you want to convert.
2
Multiply by 0.1
The conversion factor from Å to nm is 0.1. Multiply your value by this number.
3
Read the result in nanometers
The result is your value in nanometers (nm).

Practical Examples

1 Å

equals

0.1 nm

5 Å

equals

0.5 nm

10 Å

equals

1 nm

25 Å

equals

2.5 nm

100 Å

equals

10 nm

Formula

Multiply the value in angstroms by 0.1. For the reverse direction, multiply by 10.

Forwardnm = Å × 0.1

ReverseÅ = nm × 10

Example: 10 Å × 0.1 = 1 nm

Tips

Use these in everyday conversions

1 Å = 0.1 nm = 100 pm. Modern SI recommends nm or pm for new publications.
The ångström is named after the Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström.
For quick atomic-scale intuition: most atoms are 1–3 Å across.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these

Mixing up Å with µm — the scale differs by 10,000×.
Using Å for anything macroscopic — always use nm or mm for things visible under a light microscope.
Forgetting the diacritic in "Ångström" — the symbol Å avoids spelling issues.

About Angstrom and Nanometer

What is the Angstrom?

The angstrom equals exactly 0.1 nanometers or 10⁻¹⁰ meters and is the historical unit for atomic and molecular dimensions. Named after Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström (1814–1874), who used it to chart the wavelengths of solar spectral lines, the unit was widely adopted in spectroscopy, crystallography, and chemistry. The diameter of a hydrogen atom is about 1 Å, and visible light wavelengths range from 4,000 to 7,000 Å. While the SI system officially recommends nanometers (10 Å = 1 nm), the angstrom remains common in older physics and chemistry literature, X-ray diffraction studies, and crystal structure data. The symbol Å uses a special character with a circle above the A. The angstrom is one of the few non-SI units still routinely used in scientific publications, particularly in solid-state physics.

X-ray crystallography and protein structure
Chemical bond length measurement
Atomic physics and spectroscopy

Real-world examples

A water molecule is about 1 Å across. The covalent bond in H₂ is 0.74 Å. X-ray wavelengths are 0.1–100 Å.

What is the Nanometer?

The nanometer equals one billionth of a meter (0.000000001 m or 10⁻⁹ m) and is the standard unit for atomic-scale measurements, semiconductor manufacturing, and optical wavelengths. Visible light spans roughly 380 to 750 nm in wavelength, with red around 700 nm and violet around 400 nm. Modern microchip transistors have reached feature sizes of 3–5 nm in cutting-edge processes (2024+). The nanometer is essential for fiber optics, laser technology, materials science, and nanotechnology research. A DNA double helix is about 2 nm wide. The unit's name combines the Greek 'nanos' (dwarf) with 'meter,' reflecting its tiny scale. The nanometer relates to the micrometer (1,000 nm = 1 µm) and the angstrom (10 Å = 1 nm). It became standardized as part of the SI system in 1960.