Engineering

Thermal Expansion Converter

The coefficient of thermal expansion says how much a material grows per degree of temperature rise. Values are tiny, so data sheets normally quote parts per million per degree — steel is about 12 ppm/°C, aluminium 23 ppm/°C. Because Fahrenheit degrees are smaller, a per-°F coefficient is 1.8 times the per-°C figure.

11 units supported Base unit per kelvin (1/K)

1 ppm/°C
0.000001 1/°C

Multiply the number of ppm per degree celsius by 0.000001 to get per degree celsius. How this is calculated

About thermal expansion conversion

Thermal Expansion conversion is commonly needed when precision machining, bridge and rail design, and optics mounting. Because a Fahrenheit degree is smaller than a Celsius one, a per-°F coefficient is always 1.8 times the per-°C value.

Popular conversions

Convert PPM per Degree Celsius to other thermal expansion units

1 ppm/°C expressed in every other thermal expansion unit on this site.

  • Per Kelvin 1/K 0.000001
  • Per Degree Celsius 1/°C 0.000001
  • Per Degree Fahrenheit 1/°F 5.5555556e-7
  • Per Degree Rankine 1/°R 5.5555556e-7
  • Per Degree Réaumur 1/°Ré 0.00000125
  • PPM per Kelvin ppm/K 1
  • PPM per Degree Fahrenheit ppm/°F 0.55555556
  • Micrometer per Meter °C µm/(m·°C) 1
  • Microinch per Inch °F µin/(in·°F) 0.55555556
  • Millimeter per Meter °C mm/(m·°C) 0.001

Complete list of thermal expansion units

All 11 units this converter supports, each stated against the per kelvin (1/K).

11 units

Every thermal expansion unit, stated against the per kelvin
Unit Symbol System In per kelvin Conversions
Per Kelvin 1/K SI base unit (1/K)
Per Degree Celsius 1/°C SI 1 1/°C = 1 1/K
Per Degree Fahrenheit 1/°F Imperial 1 1/°F = 1.8 1/K
Per Degree Rankine 1/°R Other 1 1/°R = 1.8 1/K
Per Degree Réaumur 1/°Ré Other 1 1/°Ré = 0.8 1/K
PPM per Degree Celsius ppm/°C Metric 1 ppm/°C = 0.000001 1/K
PPM per Kelvin ppm/K Metric 1 ppm/K = 0.000001 1/K
PPM per Degree Fahrenheit ppm/°F Imperial 1 ppm/°F = 0.0000018 1/K
Micrometer per Meter °C µm/(m·°C) Metric 1 µm/(m·°C) = 0.000001 1/K
Microinch per Inch °F µin/(in·°F) Imperial 1 µin/(in·°F) = 0.0000018 1/K
Millimeter per Meter °C mm/(m·°C) Metric 1 mm/(m·°C) = 0.001 1/K

Scroll the table sideways to see every column.

Frequently asked questions

What is the base unit for thermal expansion?

Thermal Expansion conversions on this site are calculated against the per kelvin (1/K).

Which thermal expansion units can I convert?

You can convert between 11 units, including per kelvin, per degree celsius, per degree fahrenheit, per degree rankine, and more.

Where is thermal expansion conversion useful?

It is commonly needed when precision machining, bridge and rail design, and optics mounting.

Does this converter mix measurement systems?

The converter supports SI, Imperial, Other, Metric units and keeps their exact definitions separate so results stay accurate.

Related categories

Conversion factors are based on internationally agreed unit definitions. See our methodology and sources for details on how these values are verified.