Angstrom to Centimeter Converter
Convert angstroms to centimeters with our free online length converter.
Quick Answer
1 Angstrom = 1.000000e-8 centimeters
Formula: Angstrom × conversion factor = Centimeter
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.
Angstrom to Centimeter Calculator
How to Use the Angstrom to Centimeter Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Angstrom).
- The converted value in Centimeter will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Angstrom to Centimeter: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Angstrom to Centimeter involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Angstrom = 1.0000e-8 centimetersExample Calculation:
Convert 10 angstroms: 10 × 1.0000e-8 = 1.0000e-7 centimeters
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 length units?
View all Length conversions →What is a Angstrom and a Centimeter?
The Angstrom (symbol Å) is a non-SI unit of length equal to exactly 10⁻¹⁰ meters (one ten-billionth of a meter) or 0.1 nanometers (nm). While not part of the modern International System of Units (SI), it remains widely used in various scientific fields due to its convenient scale for atomic and molecular dimensions.
The Angstrom provides a direct way to express sizes at the sub-nanometer level without resorting to fractions or powers of ten. For example, expressing a carbon-carbon bond as "1.54 Å" is more intuitive than "0.154 nm" or "154 pm" for scientists working at the atomic scale.
Relationship to other units:
- 1 Angstrom = 0.1 nanometers (nm)
- 1 Angstrom = 100 picometers (pm)
- 1 Angstrom = 0.0001 micrometers (μm)
- 10 Angstroms = 1 nanometer
- 10 billion Angstroms = 1 meter
Special character note: The proper symbol is Å (capital A with a ring above), not simply "A". This distinguishes it from amperes (A) and other uses of the letter A in scientific notation.
Convert Angstroms to Other Units →
The centimeter (symbol: cm) is a unit of length equal to exactly one-hundredth of a meter (1/100 m or 0.01 m). It's also equal to exactly 10 millimeters.
The centimeter is part of the International System of Units (SI) and uses the metric prefix "centi-" meaning one-hundredth (from Latin centum, "hundred").
Mathematical Relationships
1 centimeter equals:
- 10 millimeters (mm)
- 0.01 meters (m)
- 0.00001 kilometers (km)
- 0.393701 inches (in)
- 0.0328084 feet (ft)
Key conversion:
- 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly (this is the official international definition established in 1959)
Why Centimeters?
While the meter is the official SI base unit for length, centimeters are more practical for everyday measurements:
Too small for meters, too large for millimeters: A person who is 1.75 meters tall is more commonly described as 175 centimeters in metric countries. Writing "1.75 m" requires decimals; "175 cm" uses whole numbers.
Human-scale convenience: Most objects people interact with daily—clothing, screens, body measurements, food items—fall naturally into the 1-100 cm range.
Avoids decimal confusion: "15.2 cm" is clearer than "0.152 m" for most people.
Note: The Angstrom is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Centimeter belongs to the metric (SI) system.
History of the Angstrom and Centimeter
The Angstrom unit is named after the Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström (1814–1874), one of the founders of the science of spectroscopy. Ångström made groundbreaking contributions to understanding electromagnetic radiation and atomic emission spectra.
In 1868, Ångström published a chart of the solar spectrum, expressing the wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in sunlight as multiples of 10⁻¹⁰ meters. This scale proved extraordinarily convenient for expressing:
- Atomic radii (typically 0.5-3 Å)
- Chemical bond lengths (typically 1-2 Å)
- Wavelengths of X-rays (1-10 Å)
- Crystal lattice spacings (2-10 Å)
The Angstrom quickly became the standard unit in crystallography, chemistry, and atomic physics throughout the early 20th century. X-ray crystallography, developed by Max von Laue, William Henry Bragg, and William Lawrence Bragg in the 1910s, relied heavily on Angstrom measurements for determining crystal structures.
When the International System of Units (SI) was established in 1960, the Angstrom was officially deprecated in favor of:
- Nanometer (nm) = 10⁻⁹ m (preferred for 0.1-100 nm scales)
- Picometer (pm) = 10⁻¹² m (preferred for atomic-scale measurements)
Despite this official change, the Angstrom persists robustly in scientific literature for several reasons:
- Historical data: Decades of crystallography and spectroscopy literature use Angstroms
- Convenient scale: Atomic dimensions typically fall in the 0.5-5 Å range—easy to work with
- Established conventions: Many scientific fields developed their nomenclature around Angstroms
- Software and databases: Crystallographic databases (PDB, CIF) often default to Angstroms
Today, you will find Angstroms in:
- Protein Data Bank (PDB) files for biomolecular structures
- X-ray diffraction data and crystallographic information files (CIF)
- Chemistry textbooks for bond lengths and atomic radii
- Materials science publications for thin film thickness and surface studies
Learn More About Scientific Units →
French Revolution and the Birth of the Metric System
1790s: Revolutionary Innovation: The centimeter was born from the French Revolution's ambition to create a rational, universal measurement system based on nature and decimal mathematics.
The Meter Foundation: In 1791, the French Academy of Sciences defined the meter as one ten-millionth (1/10,000,000) of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along the meridian passing through Paris. The centimeter automatically followed as 1/100 of this meter.
Latin Roots: The prefix "centi-" derives from the Latin centum (hundred), making "centimeter" literally "hundredth of a meter."
1795 Official Adoption: France officially adopted the metric system on April 7, 1795, including the centimeter as a standard subdivision of the meter.
CGS System: The Centimeter's Scientific Era
1874: The Centimeter-Gram-Second System: British scientists James Clerk Maxwell and William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) promoted the CGS system, which used:
- Centimeter for length (instead of meter)
- Gram for mass (instead of kilogram)
- Second for time
Scientific Dominance: The CGS system became the preferred standard for physics and chemistry throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many scientific formulas and units were developed using centimeters.
Legacy Units: Several units still reflect the CGS heritage:
- Poise (viscosity): measured in gram/(centimeter·second)
- Erg (energy): gram·centimeter²/second²
- Gauss (magnetic field): CGS unit for magnetic flux density
Transition to SI and the Modern Era
1960: The SI System: The International System of Units (SI) was officially established, promoting the meter-kilogram-second (MKS) system instead of CGS.
Centimeter's Continued Relevance: Despite the official SI preference for meters, centimeters remained dominant for everyday measurements because:
- They're more practical for human-scale objects
- They avoid decimals for most common measurements
- They're familiar and intuitive
Global Adoption: Today, 195 of 198 countries use the metric system, with centimeters as the standard for body height, clothing, and everyday measurements. Only the United States, Myanmar, and Liberia officially use non-metric systems.
Common Uses and Applications: angstroms vs centimeters
Explore the typical applications for both Angstrom (imperial/US) and Centimeter (metric) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for angstroms
1. Crystallography
Crystallographers use Angstroms as the standard unit for crystal structure determination via X-ray, neutron, or electron diffraction. The spacing between atomic planes (d-spacings) in crystals typically ranges from 1-10 Å, making the Angstrom the natural unit. Crystallographic Information Files (CIF) and crystallography software default to Angstrom units.
Convert Crystal Measurements →
2. Atomic and Molecular Physics
Physicists measuring atomic radii, ionic radii, and atomic orbital sizes use Angstroms because typical atomic dimensions fall in the 0.5-5 Å range. Quantum mechanics calculations often output electron densities and orbital sizes in Angstroms for convenient interpretation.
3. Chemistry and Bond Lengths
Chemists specify molecular structures with bond lengths in Angstroms. Chemical databases, molecular modeling software, and computational chemistry programs (like Gaussian, ORCA, and VASP) typically use Angstrom coordinates. This convention allows for easy comparison across decades of chemical literature.
Calculate Molecular Dimensions →
4. Structural Biology
Protein crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) express protein structures in Angstroms. The Protein Data Bank (PDB)—the worldwide repository of 3D biological macromolecular structures—uses Angstroms as the standard coordinate unit. Resolutions of protein structures are also reported in Angstroms (e.g., "2.5 Å resolution").
Convert Protein Measurements →
5. X-ray Spectroscopy
X-ray wavelengths naturally fall in the 0.1-100 Å range, making Angstroms the convenient unit for X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and synchrotron radiation experiments. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) also references wavelengths in Angstroms.
6. Thin Film Technology
Materials scientists characterize thin films, coatings, and surface layers in Angstroms, particularly for films thinner than 100 Å (10 nm). Atomic layer deposition (ALD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes often specify thicknesses in Angstroms for precision.
7. Surface Science
Surface scientists studying adsorption, catalysis, and surface reconstruction use Angstroms to measure adsorbate heights, surface step heights (typically 2-4 Å), and interlayer spacings. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) data are often expressed in Angstroms vertically.
When to Use centimeters
Medical and Healthcare
Growth Charts: Children's height is tracked in centimeters from birth:
- Pediatricians plot growth on percentile charts
- Birth length recorded in cm (typically 45-55 cm)
- Annual height measurements track development
Medical Measurements:
- Wound size: "3 cm laceration"
- Tumor diameter: measured in cm for staging
- Organ size: "enlarged liver extending 4 cm below rib cage"
- Dilation during childbirth: measured in cm (0-10 cm)
Medical Equipment:
- Blood pressure cuff width: 12-13 cm for adults
- Surgical incision length: documented in cm
- Catheter diameter: measured in mm, length in cm
Education and School Supplies
Rulers and Measuring Tools: Most rulers worldwide show centimeters:
- Standard ruler: 15 cm or 30 cm length
- Meter stick: 100 cm with cm markings
- Tape measures: marked in cm (and meters)
Paper Sizes (International ISO 216 Standard):
- A4 paper: 21 × 29.7 cm (most common worldwide)
- A5 paper: 14.8 × 21 cm (half of A4)
- A3 paper: 29.7 × 42 cm (double A4)
- Letter size (US): 21.6 × 27.9 cm (8.5 × 11 inches)
School Supplies:
- Pencil length: 19 cm (new)
- Notebook width: 15-21 cm
- Eraser length: 4-6 cm
Construction and Home Improvement
Tile Sizes: Floor and wall tiles measured in cm:
- Small tiles: 10×10 cm
- Medium tiles: 30×30 cm
- Large format tiles: 60×60 cm or 80×80 cm
- Subway tiles: 7.5×15 cm
Furniture Dimensions:
- Coffee table height: 40-50 cm
- Dining table height: 75 cm (standard)
- Chair seat height: 45-50 cm
- Sofa seat depth: 50-60 cm
Door Measurements:
- Standard interior door width: 80-90 cm
- Standard door height: 200-210 cm
- Door thickness: 3.5-4.5 cm
Art, Design, and Photography
Photo Print Sizes:
- 10×15 cm (4×6 inches) - standard print
- 13×18 cm (5×7 inches)
- 20×25 cm (8×10 inches)
- 30×40 cm (12×16 inches)
Canvas and Frame Sizes: Art supply stores sell in metric:
- Small canvas: 20×25 cm
- Medium canvas: 30×40 cm
- Large canvas: 50×70 cm
Drawing and Design:
- Technical drawings: dimensioned in cm or mm
- Graph paper: 0.5 cm or 1 cm grids
- Architectural scales: often use 1:50 or 1:100 (cm-based)
Sports and Recreation
Swimming Pool Depth: Measured in cm or meters:
- Shallow end: 90-120 cm
- Deep end: 180-300 cm
- Competition pool depth: minimum 200 cm
Bicycle Frame Sizes: Road bikes measured in cm:
- Small frame: 48-52 cm
- Medium frame: 54-56 cm
- Large frame: 58-62 cm
Sports Equipment:
- Tennis ball diameter: 6.5-6.7 cm
- Golf ball diameter: 4.3 cm
- Basketball diameter: 24 cm
Additional Unit Information
About Angstrom (Å)
How many Angstroms are in a meter?
There are 10,000,000,000 (ten billion) Angstroms in one meter (1 m = 10¹⁰ Å). Conversely, 1 Angstrom = 10⁻¹⁰ meters.
To visualize this enormous number: if you lined up 10 billion atoms side by side (each about 1 Å in radius), they would span approximately 1 meter.
Examples:
- 1 meter = 10,000,000,000 Å
- 1 millimeter = 10,000,000 Å
- 1 micrometer = 10,000 Å
- 1 nanometer = 10 Å
How many Angstroms are in a nanometer?
There are exactly 10 Angstroms (Å) in one nanometer (nm). Therefore, 1 Å = 0.1 nm.
This 10:1 ratio makes conversions straightforward:
- 1 nm = 10 Å
- 5 nm = 50 Å
- 0.5 nm = 5 Å
- 0.15 nm = 1.5 Å
Memory trick: Think "A nanometer is 10 Angstroms" (the number 10 is hidden in "ten").
Convert Angstroms to Nanometers →
Is the Angstrom an SI unit?
No, the Angstrom is not part of the International System of Units (SI). The official SI unit for length at this scale is:
- Nanometer (nm) = 10⁻⁹ m (for 0.1-1000 nm scales)
- Picometer (pm) = 10⁻¹² m (for atomic-scale measurements)
Relationship: 1 Å = 0.1 nm = 100 pm
The SI system officially deprecated the Angstrom in 1960, but it remains widely used in crystallography, chemistry, and physics due to historical convention and its convenient scale for atomic dimensions.
Why is the Angstrom still used if it is not an SI unit?
The Angstrom persists due to:
1. Historical Convention: Decades of scientific literature (1868-present) use Angstroms. Converting all historical data would be impractical.
2. Convenient Scale: Atomic radii typically range from 0.5-3 Å—easy whole numbers. In nanometers, these become 0.05-0.3 nm (more decimal places).
3. Established Databases: Major scientific databases default to Angstroms:
- Protein Data Bank (PDB): all coordinates in Angstroms
- Crystallographic Information Files (CIF): lattice parameters in Angstroms
- Chemical structure databases: bond lengths in Angstroms
4. Software Defaults: Most crystallography and molecular modeling software uses Angstroms as the default unit.
5. Intuitive Communication: Saying "1.5 Angstroms" is often clearer than "150 picometers" or "0.15 nanometers" in research discussions.
What fields commonly use Angstroms?
The Angstrom remains common in:
Primary fields:
- Crystallography: X-ray, neutron, and electron diffraction for crystal structure determination
- Structural Biology: Protein and nucleic acid structure determination (PDB files)
- Chemistry: Molecular geometry, bond lengths, and computational chemistry
- Atomic Physics: Atomic radii, orbital sizes, and spectroscopy
Secondary fields:
- Materials Science: Thin films, surface science, and nanostructures
- Spectroscopy: X-ray wavelengths and absorption spectra
- Microscopy: Electron microscopy and scanning probe microscopy
- Semiconductor Physics: Historical or informal references to feature sizes
Compare Different Scientific Units →
How do you type the Angstrom symbol (Å)?
Typing the proper Angstrom symbol Å varies by platform:
Windows:
- Hold Alt and type 0197 on numeric keypad: Å
- Or use Character Map application
Mac:
- Option + Shift + A: Å
Linux:
- Compose key + A + A: Å
- Or Ctrl + Shift + U, then type 00C5, then Enter
HTML/Web:
- HTML entity:
Å→ Å - Unicode:
Å→ Å
LaTeX:
\AAor\r{A}→ Å
Microsoft Word:
- Insert → Symbol → select Å
- Or AutoCorrect: type (A) and it may convert automatically
If the symbol is unavailable, write "Angstrom" or abbreviate as "Ang" in informal contexts.
What is the difference between Angstrom and picometer?
An Angstrom (Å) equals 10⁻¹⁰ meters, while a picometer (pm) equals 10⁻¹² meters. This means 1 Angstrom = 100 picometers.
Scale comparison:
- Angstrom scale: atomic radii, bond lengths (0.5-5 Å = 50-500 pm)
- Picometer scale: ultra-precise bond length measurements, nuclear radii
Examples:
- Hydrogen atom radius: 0.53 Å = 53 pm
- C-H bond length: 1.09 Å = 109 pm
- C-C single bond: 1.54 Å = 154 pm
Usage differences:
- Angstroms: Traditional in chemistry and crystallography (though not SI-compliant)
- Picometers: Official SI unit, required by some journals and standards bodies
Many scientists prefer Angstroms for convenience (whole numbers), while formal SI publications require picometers or nanometers.
Convert Angstroms to Picometers →
How is Angstrom used in protein crystallography?
In protein crystallography, the Angstrom is the standard unit for:
1. Atomic Coordinates: PDB files list x, y, z coordinates of every atom in Angstroms.
2. Resolution: The quality of diffraction data is expressed in Angstroms:
- High resolution: <1.5 Å (individual atoms clearly visible)
- Medium resolution: 1.5-3.0 Å (backbone and side chains visible)
- Low resolution: >3.0 Å (overall fold visible, details limited)
3. Bond Lengths: Standard bond lengths used for structure refinement:
- C-C: 1.54 Å
- C-N: 1.47 Å
- C-O: 1.43 Å
4. Crystal Lattice: Unit cell dimensions (a, b, c axes) are given in Angstroms, typically 50-200 Å.
5. B-factors: Atomic displacement parameters are in Ų (square Angstroms).
Example: "The structure was solved at 2.1 Å resolution with unit cell dimensions a=62.3 Å, b=78.5 Å, c=91.2 Å."
Convert Crystallography Units →
Can I convert Angstroms to inches?
Yes, but it is extremely impractical. Angstroms measure atomic scales, while inches measure everyday objects—a difference of 10 billion!
Conversion: 1 Angstrom = 3.937 × 10⁻⁹ inches (about 0.000000004 inches)
Or inversely: 1 inch = 254,000,000 Å (254 million Angstroms)
Example: A carbon atom with radius 0.77 Å = 0.000000003 inches. This is why scientists use metric units—Angstroms, nanometers, and picometers are far more practical for atomic-scale work.
Convert Angstroms to Practical Units →
Why is it called Angstrom and not Ångström?
The English spelling "Angstrom" is a simplified version of the Swedish name "Ångström" to accommodate keyboards and alphabets without special characters.
Proper Swedish spelling: Anders Jonas Ångström (with the Swedish letter "Å")
Common variations:
- Angstrom (English, without diacritics)
- Ångström (Swedish/original spelling)
- Ångstrom (mixed form)
All refer to the same unit and the same physicist. The symbol Å remains universal across languages, representing both the unit and the first letter of Ångström's name (with the ring above).
In scientific writing, either "Angstrom" or "Ångström" is acceptable, though the simplified "Angstrom" is more common in English-language publications.
Conversion Table: Angstrom to Centimeter
| Angstrom (Å) | Centimeter (cm) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 |
| 1.5 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| 50 | 0 |
| 100 | 0 |
| 250 | 0 |
| 500 | 0 |
| 1,000 | 0 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Angstrom to Centimeter?
To convert Angstrom to Centimeter, enter the value in Angstrom in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our length converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Angstrom to Centimeter?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Angstrom and Centimeter. 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 Centimeter back to Angstrom?
Yes! You can easily convert Centimeter back to Angstrom by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Centimeter to Angstrom converter page. You can also explore other length conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Angstrom and Centimeter?
Angstrom and Centimeter are both standard units used in length measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our length converter for more conversion options.
For more length conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
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⚖️ Metric vs Imperial
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⚠️ Common Mistakes
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All Length Conversions
Other Length Units and Conversions
Explore other length units and their conversion options:
- Meter (m) • Angstrom to Meter
- Kilometer (km) • Angstrom to Kilometer
- Hectometer (hm) • Angstrom to Hectometer
- Decimeter (dm) • Angstrom to Decimeter
- Millimeter (mm) • Angstrom to Millimeter
- Inch (in) • Angstrom to Inch
- Foot (ft) • Angstrom to Foot
- Yard (yd) • Angstrom to Yard
- Mile (mi) • Angstrom to Mile
- Nautical Mile (NM) • Angstrom to Nautical Mile
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 — Official US standards for length measurements
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units official documentation
Last verified: February 19, 2026