Scientific Notation Converter
Convert any number to and from scientific notation.
Results update as you type.
About this calculator
Scientific notation writes a number as a coefficient between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of ten, and this scientific notation converter turns any value into that form along with E-notation, engineering notation, its order of magnitude, and the plain standard-form number. It also reads scientific input, so you can convert in either direction.
To build the coefficient, the decimal point is moved so a single non-zero digit sits in front of it; the number of places moved becomes the exponent. So 12,345 has its point shifted four places to give 1.2345 × 10⁴, and small numbers use a negative exponent — 0.00045 becomes 4.5 × 10⁻⁴. Engineering notation keeps the exponent to a multiple of three (matching kilo, mega and so on), rewriting 12,345 as 12.345 × 10³, and the order of magnitude is just that power of ten, 4 here.
Scientific notation is how very large and very small quantities are handled in physics, astronomy, chemistry and computing without writing long strings of zeros. Entering a value in E-notation such as 1.2e5 converts it straight back to the standard number 120000.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write a number in scientific notation?
Move the decimal point so one non-zero digit sits in front of it, then multiply by 10 to the number of places moved. 12,345 = 1.2345 × 10⁴.
What is E-notation?
E-notation is how calculators display scientific notation: 1.2345 × 10⁴ is shown as 1.2345e+4, where the number after e is the power of ten.
What is engineering notation?
It is like scientific notation but the exponent is kept to a multiple of three, so it lines up with metric prefixes. 12,345 is written 12.345 × 10³.
What is the order of magnitude of a number?
It is the power of ten in its scientific notation — the exponent. For 12,345 the order of magnitude is 4.
Can I convert E-notation back to a plain number?
Yes. Type a value like 1.2e5 and the converter expands it to the standard form 120000.
How are very small numbers written in scientific notation?
They use a negative exponent. 0.00045 becomes 4.5 × 10⁻⁴, moving the point four places to the right.
API — use this calculator from code
Call this calculator as a free JSON endpoint — no key required. Send the field values below as query parameters or JSON. Read the full API docs →
Endpoint
GET https://calculator.free/api/v1/scientific-notation/curl
curl "https://calculator.free/api/v1/scientific-notation/?number=12345"JavaScript fetch()
const r = await fetch(
"https://calculator.free/api/v1/scientific-notation/?" + new URLSearchParams({
"number": "12345"
}));
const data = await r.json();
console.log(data.results);Results are estimates for general guidance only, not financial, medical or tax advice.