Electric Field Strength Converter

Electric field strength (E) is the force an electric field puts on each unit of charge, or the voltage per unit of distance. Its SI unit is the volt per meter (V/m), which is the same as the newton per coulomb (N/C). For a uniform field between two plates, E = V / d.

For a sense of scale, the fair-weather field near the ground is about 100–150 V/m, and dry air breaks down, so a spark jumps, at about 3,000,000 V/m (30 kV/cm).

How to convert electric field units

Type a value into any field, and every other unit is calculated at once. For example, 500 V across a 2 cm gap is 250 V/cm:

1. In V/m: multiply by 100.

   250 × 100 = 25,000 V/m

2. In kV/m: divide that by 1,000.

   25,000 / 1,000 = 25 kV/m

Kilovolts per millimeter and volts per mil

The dielectric strength of insulation is quoted in kV/mm in most of the world and in V/mil in the US. 1 kV/mm = 10 kV/cm, so to convert a value in kV/mm, enter it multiplied by 10 into the kV/cm field. For example, 20 kV/mm is 200 kV/cm, which is 508 V/mil.

• 1 kV/mm = 25.4 V/mil
• 1 V/mil = 0.0393701 kV/mm

Common conversions

Electric field strength units

• Volt / meter (V/m): The volt per meter is the SI unit for electric field strength. In a field of 1 V/m, the potential changes by one volt over each meter, and a charge of one coulomb feels a force of one newton.
  Conversion Factor: 1 V/m = 1 V/m (Base Unit)

• Kilovolt / meter (kV/m): One kilovolt per meter is equal to one thousand volt per meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 kV/m = 1,000 V/m

• Millivolt / meter (mV/m): One millivolt per meter is equal to one-thousandth of a volt per meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 mV/m = 0.001 V/m

• Microvolt/meter (μV/m): One microvolt per meter is equal to one-millionth of a volt per meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 μV/m = 0.000001 V/m

• Volt / centimeter (V/cm): One volt per centimeter is equal to 100 volt per meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 V/cm = 100 V/m

• Kilovolt / centimeter (kV/cm): One kilovolt per centimeter is equal to 100,000 volt per meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 kV/cm = 100,000 V/m

• Volt / inch (V/in): One volt per inch is equal to 39.3701 volt per meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 V/in = 39.37 V/m

• Kilovolt / inch (kV/in): One kilovolt per inch is equal to 39370 volt per meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 kV/in = 39,370.1 V/m

• Volt / mil (V/mil): A mil is a thousandth of an inch (0.0254 mm), so one volt per mil is equal to 39,370 volt per meter. It is how the dielectric strength of insulating films and coatings is often given in the US.
  Conversion Factor: 1 V/mil = 39,370.1 V/m

• Abvolt / centimeter (abV/cm): The Abvolt is a CGS unit of electric potential. One abvolt per centimeter is equal to one-millionth of a volt per meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 abV/cm = 0.000001 V/m

• Statvolt / centimeter (statV/cm): The statvolt is another CGS unit of electric potential. One statvolt per centimeter is equal to 29979 volt per meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 statV/cm = 29,979 V/m

• Statvolt / inch (statV/in): One statvolt per inch is equal to 0.3937 statvolt per centimeter, or 11803 volt per meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 statV/in = 0.3937 statV/cm = 11,803 V/m

• Newton / coulomb (N/C): One newton per coulomb is equivalent to one volt per meter. Conversion Factor: 1 N/C = 1 V/m