Picometers to Nanometers Converter

picometer to nanometer – How to convert pm to nm

Converting picometer to nanometer (pm to nm) is a common step in atomic physics, chemistry, and nanoscience. While the picometer measures the radii of atoms and the lengths of chemical bonds, the nanometer is better suited for molecules, viruses, and nanoscale materials. This conversion bridges two essential scales in modern science.

What is a picometer (pm)?

A picometer (symbol pm) equals 10⁻¹² meters, or one-trillionth of a meter. It is typically used to measure atomic radii and bond lengths. For example, a hydrogen atom’s covalent radius is about 31 pm, and the average carbon–carbon bond length is about 154 pm.

What is a nanometer (nm)?

A nanometer (symbol nm) equals 10⁻⁹ meters, or one-billionth of a meter. Nanometers are widely used in biology, medicine, and nanotechnology. For instance, the diameter of a DNA double helix is about 2.5 nm, while many viruses fall between 20 and 300 nm.

Conversion formula: picometer to nanometer

To connect pm and nm, compare them through meters:

• 1 pm = 10⁻¹² m

• 1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m

Now relate them directly:

• 1 nm = 1,000 pm

• 1 pm = 0.001 nm

 Example: 5,000 pm ÷ 1,000 = 5 nm.

For quick and accurate results, you can also use our Length Converter, which supports pm to nm and many other unit conversions.

Do you know?

• Picometer fact: Advanced electron microscopes can detect changes as small as 50 pm, allowing researchers to study atomic vibrations inside crystals.

• Nanometer fact: The visible spectrum of light spans roughly 400–700 nm, which defines the colors we can see.

• Picometer fact: The unit is critical in quantum chemistry, where bond lengths often vary by tens of pm depending on molecular structure.

• Nanometer fact: The world’s most advanced semiconductor chips now feature transistors at around 3 nm, packing billions into a fingernail-sized chip.

 From atomic bonds to nanotechnology breakthroughs

In the mid-20th century, scientists studying materials used X-ray crystallography to measure atomic arrangements at the picometer scale. Bond lengths of around 100–200 pm revealed how atoms formed the backbone of molecules.

Decades later, this atomic-scale knowledge fueled the rise of nanotechnology. By understanding how atoms connect at the pm level, researchers could design nanomaterials measured in nm. One famous example is graphene, a sheet of carbon atoms just one atom thick. The carbon–carbon bond in graphene is 142 pm, but the sheet itself extends into the nm range, giving it remarkable strength and conductivity.

This transition from pm to nm demonstrates how science links the smallest atomic details with functional nanomaterials. Without mastering both units, advances like nanomedicine, quantum dots, and 2D materials would not be possible.

Connecting Atoms to Nanoworlds

The conversion from pm to nm is more than arithmetic — it connects atomic distances to nanoscale structures that shape modern science and technology. Picometers describe the invisible bonds holding matter together, while nanometers reveal the dimensions of viruses, DNA, and nanomaterials.

By converting between pm and nm, researchers can bridge atomic precision with practical applications, showing how the tiniest measurements underpin some of humanity’s greatest discoveries.

Try our all-in-one Conversion Tools. These calculators cover everything from length to energy, simplifying conversions across many scientific fields.