National Institute of Standards and Technology · reviewed 2026-10-10
What this source supports: NIST SP 811 documents rounding and significant-figure conventions for reported measurements.
Source limit: Individual journals and courses may specify their own reporting conventions. Follow the rule your work requires.
These sources support the statements above. They do not show that every person needs this guide. They do not show a specific result.
Limits
This guide multiplies and divides by the factors you enter. It does not look up the prefix table or verify your units.
Individual journals and courses may specify their own reporting conventions. Follow the rule your work requires.
Use current instructions from the responsible organization. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision or a substitute for qualified advice.
Common questions
What does the App compute?
Convert a value between two SI prefixes and show the base-unit value and the factor between the units.
What does the App not do?
This App multiplies and divides by the factors you enter. It does not look up the prefix table, check that your units match, or judge a measurement.
Where do the numbers come from?
You enter every number yourself. The sources support the method and the limits. They do not produce a result for your specific case. Keep the original documents next to the sheet you build.
Before you start
Open the linked source page and keep it beside you.
Gather the values the App asks for:
Value as written.
Factor of the prefix you have.
Factor of the prefix you want.
Set aside ten quiet minutes; rushed numbers are the main error this guide prevents.
Free Companion App
The App computes the worked example with your own numbers, in your browser.
APP 1
SI Prefix Conversion Check
Convert a value between two SI prefixes and show the base-unit value and the factor between the units.
This guide is edited for clarity and checked against the sources it links. It is not a substitute for official instructions or qualified advice. A linked source does not show that every person needs this guide.