Hertz to Cycles per Second Converter
Convert hertz to cps with our free online frequency converter.
Quick Answer
1 Hertz = 1 cps
Formula: Hertz × conversion factor = Cycles per Second
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.
Hertz to Cycles per Second Calculator
How to Use the Hertz to Cycles per Second Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Hertz).
- The converted value in Cycles per Second will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Frequency category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Hertz to Cycles per Second: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Hertz to Cycles per Second involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
cps = Hz × 1Example Calculation:
1 Hz = 1 cps
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
Need to convert to other frequency units?
View all Frequency conversions →What is a Hertz and a Cycles per Second?
1 Hz = 1 cycle per second = 1/second = s⁻¹
Metric prefixes:
- 1,000 Hz = 1 kHz (kilohertz)
- 1,000,000 Hz = 1 MHz (megahertz)
- 1,000,000,000 Hz = 1 GHz (gigahertz)
1 cps = 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second = 1 complete oscillation per second
Note: The Hertz is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Cycles per Second belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Hertz and Cycles per Second
Before 1960: "Cycles per second" was the standard term
- Common abbreviations: c/s, c.p.s., cps, ~/s
1960: Renamed to "hertz" (Hz)
- Honors Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894)
- Adopted at 11th CGPM (General Conference on Weights and Measures)
- Simplified terminology and standardized notation
Why the change?
- Shorter, more convenient
- Honors a pioneering physicist
- Consistent with other SI units named after scientists (ampere, watt, volt, etc.)
- International standardization
Common Uses and Applications: hertz vs cps
Explore the typical applications for both Hertz (imperial/US) and Cycles per Second (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for hertz
AC Power: 50 Hz (Europe/Asia) or 60 Hz (Americas) - frequency of alternating current electricity. Audio: 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz (20 kHz) is the human hearing range. Display Refresh: Monitor and TV refresh rates (60 Hz, 120 Hz, 144 Hz, 240 Hz). Vibrations: Engine vibrations, seismic waves, mechanical oscillations measured in Hz.
When to Use cps
(Historical & Current)
Historical Technical Documents: Pre-1960 radio, electronics, and acoustics literature. Some Fields Still Use "cycles": Audio engineering may say "cycles" colloquially. Education: Teaching frequency concepts before introducing Hz notation. Older Equipment: Vintage test equipment labeled in cps.
Additional Unit Information
About Hertz (Hz)
How do I convert Hz to kHz?
Formula: kHz = Hz ÷ 1,000
Examples:
- 1,000 Hz = 1 kHz
- 440 Hz = 0.44 kHz (A4 musical note)
- 20,000 Hz = 20 kHz (upper hearing limit)
- 100 Hz = 0.1 kHz
What is 60 Hz?
60 Hz is the AC power frequency in North America, parts of South America, and some Asian countries. The electricity alternates direction 60 times per second.
Also used for:
- Standard monitor refresh rate (60 frames/second)
- Fluorescent light flicker frequency
- Basis for NTSC video standard
Countries using 60 Hz: USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan (East), Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Taiwan
How many Hz can humans hear?
Human hearing range: 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz (20 kHz)
Age-dependent hearing:
- Young children: 20 Hz - 20 kHz (full range)
- Adults (25+): 20 Hz - 16 kHz
- Adults (50+): 20 Hz - 12 kHz
- Adults (70+): 20 Hz - 8 kHz
Sound categories:
- Infrasound: <20 Hz (inaudible to humans)
- Audible range: 20-20,000 Hz
- Ultrasound: >20,000 Hz (inaudible to humans)
Speech range: 300-3,400 Hz (telephone bandwidth)
Why is AC power 50 Hz or 60 Hz?
Historical reasons:
- Early generators were designed for efficient transformer operation
- 50/60 Hz prevents visible light flicker (persistence of vision)
- Low enough for simple transformer design
- High enough to prevent flicker
50 Hz vs 60 Hz:
- 50 Hz: Slightly more efficient for power transmission
- 60 Hz: Motors are slightly more compact and lighter
- Both work well for incandescent lights, motors, and transformers
The split is historical - different pioneers chose different standards in the 1890s, and infrastructure locked in these frequencies.
How do I convert Hz to RPM?
Formula: RPM = Hz × 60
Examples:
- 50 Hz = 3,000 RPM (synchronous motor speed at 50 Hz)
- 60 Hz = 3,600 RPM (synchronous motor speed at 60 Hz)
- 1 Hz = 60 RPM
About Cycles per Second (cps)
Is cps the same as Hz?
Yes, exactly the same:
- 1 cps = 1 Hz
- 1 kilocycles per second (kcps or kc/s) = 1 kHz
- 1 megacycles per second (Mcps or Mc/s) = 1 MHz
Only difference: Terminology and era
- cps: Used before 1960
- Hz: Used from 1960 onwards (current standard)
Example conversions:
- 60 cps = 60 Hz (AC power)
- 1000 cps = 1 kHz (audio frequency)
- 100,000 cps = 100 kHz (AM radio range)
Why was cps changed to hertz?
Reasons for the 1960 change:
- Brevity: "Hz" is shorter than "cycles per second"
- Honor: Named after Heinrich Hertz who proved electromagnetic wave existence
- Standardization: Consistent with ampere, watt, volt, newton, pascal
- International: Single symbol understood globally
- Simplicity: Easier for metric prefixes (kHz, MHz, GHz vs kcps, Mcps, Gcps)
The change was purely nomenclature - the measurement itself remained identical.
When do I still see "cycles per second"?
Where you might encounter cps:
Historical documents:
- Pre-1960 radio manuals
- Vintage audio equipment
- Old electrical engineering textbooks
Colloquial use:
- Audio engineers may say "cycles" informally
- Explaining frequency concepts to beginners
- When emphasizing the cyclic nature
Vintage equipment:
- Old oscilloscopes
- Antique signal generators
- Historical test equipment
Recommendation: Use Hz in all modern contexts. Only use cps when discussing historical equipment or documents.
How do I convert kc/s (kilocycles per second) to Hz?
Formula: Hz = kc/s × 1,000
Examples:
- 1 kc/s = 1,000 Hz = 1 kHz
- 10 kc/s = 10,000 Hz = 10 kHz
- 1000 kc/s = 1,000,000 Hz = 1 MHz
Old radio terminology:
- AM radio: 550-1600 kc/s = 550-1600 kHz
- Shortwave: 3-30 Mc/s = 3-30 MHz
What is Mc/s (megacycles per second)?
Mc/s = Megacycles per second (historical term)
Modern equivalent: MHz (megahertz)
Conversion: 1 Mc/s = 1 MHz = 1,000,000 Hz
Historical usage:
- FM radio: 88-108 Mc/s → now 88-108 MHz
- VHF TV: 54-216 Mc/s → now 54-216 MHz
- Old radio communications
Old abbreviations:
- Mc/s, Mc, Mcps all meant megacycles per second
- Now standardized as MHz
Conversion Table: Hertz to Cycles per Second
| Hertz (Hz) | Cycles per Second (cps) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 1 | 1 |
| 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 10 | 10 |
| 25 | 25 |
| 50 | 50 |
| 100 | 100 |
| 250 | 250 |
| 500 | 500 |
| 1,000 | 1,000 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Hertz to Cycles per Second?
To convert Hertz to Cycles per Second, enter the value in Hertz in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our frequency converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Hertz to Cycles per Second?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Hertz and Cycles per Second. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Cycles per Second back to Hertz?
Yes! You can easily convert Cycles per Second back to Hertz by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Cycles per Second to Hertz converter page. You can also explore other frequency conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Hertz and Cycles per Second?
Hertz and Cycles per Second are both standard units used in frequency measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our frequency converter for more conversion options.
For more frequency conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
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All Frequency Conversions
Other Frequency Units and Conversions
Explore other frequency units and their conversion options:
- Millihertz (mHz) • Hertz to Millihertz
- Kilohertz (kHz) • Hertz to Kilohertz
- Megahertz (MHz) • Hertz to Megahertz
- Gigahertz (GHz) • Hertz to Gigahertz
- Terahertz (THz) • Hertz to Terahertz
- Revolutions per Minute (rpm) • Hertz to Revolutions per Minute
- Revolutions per Second (rps) • Hertz to Revolutions per Second
- Beats per Minute (bpm) • Hertz to Beats per Minute
- Radians per Second (rad/s) • Hertz to Radians per Second
Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology — Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards
International Organization for Standardization — Quantities and units international standards series
Last verified: December 3, 2025