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Wavenumber Converter

Convert wavelength, wavenumber, frequency, and energy with presets, sliders, and range sweeps.

Model: Exact

400 nm
100–49999 nm
4000 nm
401–50000 nm

Range (cm⁻¹)

2500.0 — 25000.0

Energy Range (eV)

0.3100 — 3.0996

Wavenumber

10000.00 cm⁻¹

Freq: 299.792 THz | Energy: 1.23984 eV

ν̃ (cm⁻¹) = 10⁷ / λ (nm)

E (eV) = hc/(eλ) = 1239.842 / λ (nm)

f (Hz) = c/λ = 2.99792458 × 10¹⁷ / λ (nm)

Wavelengths are vacuum values; c, h and e are exact in the SI, so the conversions are exact. A wavelength read in air is shorter by n_air ≈ 1.00027 (visible), so its wavenumber is about 0.03 % higher than the vacuum one.

Wavelength relationships

1101001.0k10.0k5001.0k1.5k2.0k2.5k3.0k3.5k4.0kWavelength (nm)Value
  • Wavenumber (cm⁻¹)
  • Energy (eV)

Model and references

Exact. The equations are exact within the stated assumptions, or are a standard's tabulated values. The results are as good as the inputs. About the tiers

Exact relations ν̃ = 1/λ, f = c/λ and E = hc/λ for vacuum wavelengths; c, h and e are exact in the SI. Air wavelengths must be converted to vacuum first.

  1. BIPM (2019). The International System of Units (SI Brochure), 9th ed. Defining constants c, h and e. bipm.org
  2. Mohr P. J., Newell D. B., Taylor B. N., Tiesinga E. (2025). CODATA recommended values of the fundamental physical constants: 2022. Rev. Mod. Phys. 97, 025002. doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.97.025002
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