Scientific Notation Calculator
Scientific, E and engineering notation side by side.
Scientific, E and engineering notation side by side.
Leave at zero to keep every digit.
Scientific notation
2.99792458 × 10^8
2.99792458e+8
Scientific notation puts exactly one non-zero digit before the point, so the exponent alone tells you the magnitude. Engineering notation instead keeps the exponent to a multiple of three, lining it up with the metric prefixes — kilo, mega, milli, micro — which is why electronics and mechanical work prefer it.
How the Scientific Notation Calculator works
Scientific notation puts exactly one non-zero digit before the point, so the exponent alone carries the magnitude. Engineering notation instead keeps the exponent to a multiple of three, lining it up with the metric prefixes — which is why electronics and mechanical work prefer it.
Also known as: standard form calculator · e notation converter · engineering notation calculator · convert to scientific notation
Where to go next
The Scientific Notation question rarely arrives on its own. These are the ones that usually come with it:
- Significant Figures Calculator — Rounding to sig figs, and where the convention breaks down.
- Exponent Calculator — Powers, including negative and fractional exponents.
- Logarithm Calculator — Any base, via the change-of-base identity.
- Percentage Calculator — Every common percentage question in one place.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a number in scientific notation?
Move the decimal point until exactly one non-zero digit is in front of it, then record how many places you moved as the exponent. 299,792,458 becomes 2.99792458 × 10⁸.
What is engineering notation?
The same idea with the exponent restricted to multiples of three, so it maps directly onto kilo, mega, milli and micro. 47,000 is 4.7 × 10⁴ in scientific notation but 47 × 10³ in engineering.
What does the E mean on a calculator?
It is shorthand for '× 10 to the power'. 2.5E+8 means 2.5 × 10⁸.
How do negative exponents work here?
They indicate a number below 1. 0.00042 is 4.2 × 10⁻⁴ — the decimal point moved four places right.
Put this calculator on your own site
Free to use, on any site, commercial or not. Paste this where you want it to appear. It is a plain iframe, so it works in WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, Ghost and anything else that accepts HTML.
<iframe src="https://www.thecalclibrary.com/embed/scientific-notation-calculator" width="100%" height="640" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Scientific Notation Calculator"></iframe>
<p style="font:13px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;margin:6px 0 0;color:#64748b">Powered by <a href="https://www.thecalclibrary.com/scientific-notation-calculator" style="color:#64748b">Scientific Notation Calculator</a> from The Calc Library</p>The only condition is that the credit line below the frame stays in place. That one line is what pays for the tool being free — it is how anyone else finds it.
Related calculators
Significant Figures Calculator
Rounding to sig figs, and where the convention breaks down.
OpenExponent Calculator
Powers, including negative and fractional exponents.
OpenLogarithm Calculator
Any base, via the change-of-base identity.
OpenPercentage Calculator
Every common percentage question in one place.
Open