{"id":55900,"date":"2015-10-24T15:55:11","date_gmt":"2015-10-24T13:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wpcalc.com\/?p=55900"},"modified":"2026-09-28T09:37:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T06:37:33","slug":"surface-charge-density","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/surface-charge-density\/","title":{"rendered":"Surface Charge Density Converter"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"not-prose calculator-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculator-title\"><div class=\"flex items-baseline sm:items-center justify-between gap-2 sm:gap-3\"><div class=\"flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center gap-2\"><span class=\"icon icon-calculator text-primary-700! text-base! dark:text-primary-300!\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2 id=\"calculator-title\" class=\"text-lg font-display font-bold\">Convert Surface Charge Density Between Units<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"calcdash-favorite group\">\n  <button type=\"button\" class=\"favorite\" id=\"favorite\" data-favorite-id=\"55900\" data-favorite-title=\"Surface Charge Density\" data-favorite-url=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/surface-charge-density\/\" data-favorite-excerpt=\"Convert surface charge density between C\/m\u00b2, \u00b5C\/m\u00b2, nC\/m\u00b2, pC\/m\u00b2, and esu\/cm\u00b2. Enter a nonnegative value and select the starting and target units.\" aria-label=\"Add to Favorites\" data-favorite-icon=\"icon icon-physic\">\n    <span class=\"icon icon-shape-star-empty\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n  <\/button>\n  <div class=\"calcdash-favorite__tip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n   <span class=\"favorite-tooltip\" id=\"favorite-tooltip\"><\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"favorite-status\"><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><form action=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/surface-charge-density\/\" method=\"POST\" class=\"calculator\" id=\"calculator-55900\" data-post=\"55900\"><fieldset class=\"fieldset-input\"><legend class=\"sr-only\">Input Fields<\/legend><div class=\"field is-single\" id=\"input-1\"><label for=\"field-1\">Surface charge density<\/label><input type=\"text\" name=\"surface_charge_density\" id=\"field-1\" aria-describedby=\"calc-unit-1 calc-info-1\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"0\" value=\"1.0E-6\"\/><div class=\"unit\" id=\"calc-unit-1\"><\/div><small id=\"calc-info-1\">Enter the surface charge density value to convert<\/small><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-2\"><label for=\"field-2\">From unit<\/label><div class=\"grid grid-cols-1\"><select id=\"field-2\" name=\"from_unit\"><option value=\"C\/m\u00b2\">Coulomb per square meter (C\/m\u00b2)<\/option><option value=\"\u00b5C\/m\u00b2\">Microcoulomb per square meter (\u00b5C\/m\u00b2)<\/option><option value=\"nC\/m\u00b2\">Nanocoulomb per square meter (nC\/m\u00b2)<\/option><option value=\"pC\/m\u00b2\">Picocoulomb per square meter (pC\/m\u00b2)<\/option><option value=\"esu\/cm\u00b2\">Statcoulomb per square centimeter (esu\/cm\u00b2)<\/option><\/select><svg class=\"pointer-events-none col-start-1 row-start-1 mr-2 size-5 self-center justify-self-end text-gray-500 sm:size-4\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n              <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.22 6.22a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06 0L8 8.94l2.72-2.72a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06 1.06l-3.25 3.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06 0L4.22 7.28a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n            <\/svg><\/div><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-3\"><label for=\"field-3\">To unit<\/label><div class=\"grid grid-cols-1\"><select id=\"field-3\" name=\"to_unit\"><option value=\"C\/m\u00b2\">Coulomb per square meter (C\/m\u00b2)<\/option><option value=\"\u00b5C\/m\u00b2\">Microcoulomb per square meter (\u00b5C\/m\u00b2)<\/option><option value=\"nC\/m\u00b2\">Nanocoulomb per square meter (nC\/m\u00b2)<\/option><option value=\"pC\/m\u00b2\">Picocoulomb per square meter (pC\/m\u00b2)<\/option><option value=\"esu\/cm\u00b2\">Statcoulomb per square centimeter (esu\/cm\u00b2)<\/option><\/select><svg class=\"pointer-events-none col-start-1 row-start-1 mr-2 size-5 self-center justify-self-end text-gray-500 sm:size-4\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n              <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.22 6.22a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06 0L8 8.94l2.72-2.72a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06 1.06l-3.25 3.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06 0L4.22 7.28a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n            <\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/fieldset><div class=\"buttons\"><button type=\"submit\" data-text=\"Re-Calculate\" id=\"calculate-button\" data-post=\"55900\">Calculate<\/button><button type=\"reset\">Reset<\/button><\/div><div class=\"field is-checkbox hidden!\" id=\"field-auto-calc\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"auto-calc\"><label for=\"auto-calc\">Calculate automatically<\/label><small>If enabled, the result will update automatically when you change any value.<\/small><\/div><div class=\"fieldset-result is-hidden\" aria-labelledby=\"result-title\" aria-live=\"polite\" role=\"region\"> <h3 class=\"result-title bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 dark:from-primary-900 dark:to-gray-800\" id=\"result-title\"><span class=\"icon icon-s-pulse\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span> Your Results<\/h3><div class=\"result-box\"><div class=\"field-result\" id=\"output-1\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>Converted Surface Charge Density<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-1\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"result-actions\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-link\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M12.232 4.232a2.5 2.5 0 0 1 3.536 3.536l-1.225 1.224a.75.75 0 0 0 1.061 1.06l1.224-1.224a4 4 0 0 0-5.656-5.656l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 .225 5.865.75.75 0 0 0 .977-1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1-.142-3.667l3-3Z\"\/><path d=\"M11.603 7.963a.75.75 0 0 0-.977 1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1 .142 3.667l-3 3a2.5 2.5 0 0 1-3.536-3.536l1.225-1.224a.75.75 0 0 0-1.061-1.06l-1.224 1.224a4 4 0 1 0 5.656 5.656l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-.225-5.865Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"copy-link__text\">Copy link to this calculation<\/span><\/button><span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"copy-link-status\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><a href=\"#respond\" class=\"hidden transition-opacity duration-300 opacity-0 w-50 text-sm justify-center items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-300\" id=\"leave-comment\"><span class=\"icon icon-comments\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>Leave a Comment<\/a><\/form><\/section><section id=\"calc-reactions\" class=\"not-prose hidden my-12 bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 border border-indigo-100 rounded-xl px-6 py-4 shadow-sm\" data-post=\"55900\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\"><p id=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"text-sm text-gray-500 text-center mb-2\">How did this result make you feel?<\/p><div role=\"group\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"grid grid-cols-3 sm:flex sm:flex-row sm:justify-around gap-4 sm:items-center sm:flex-wrap\"><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"like\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"like\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude00 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Like <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"helpful\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"helpful\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\udca1 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Helpful <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"confused\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"confused\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude15 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Confused <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"disappointed\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"disappointed\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude1e <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Disappointed <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"inaccurate\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"inaccurate\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u274c <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Inaccurate <\/span><\/button><\/div><div id=\"reaction-message\" class=\"hidden mt-8 rounded-md border border-primary-100 bg-white\/50 backdrop-blur-sm px-4 py-2 text-sm text-center shadow-sm\"><\/div><\/section><div class=\"calcdash-ad not-prose calcdash-ad--calc_result calcdash-ad--in-article\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1721569815777345\" data-ad-slot=\"6317458308\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-1\">.formula-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section class=\"formula-box\" aria-labelledby=\"formula-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"formula-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display mb-4\"><span class=\"icon icon-formula\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Surface Charge Density Conversion Formula<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\t<figure class=\"not-prose formula\">\r\n\t\t<figcaption class=\"formula-title\">Formula<\/figcaption>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"text-base text-gray-800\" id=\"formula\">\n\\[ \\sigma_{\\mathrm{to}}=\\sigma_{\\mathrm{from}}\\frac{f_{\\mathrm{from}}}{f_{\\mathrm{to}}} \\]\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\t<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\\(\\sigma_{\\mathrm{from}}\\) \u2014 the entered surface charge density in the selected From unit<\/li>\n<li>\\(\\sigma_{\\mathrm{to}}\\) \u2014 surface charge density in the selected To unit<\/li>\n<li>\\(f_{\\mathrm{from}}\\) and \\(f_{\\mathrm{to}}\\) \u2014 factors that express one unit of each selection in C\/m\u00b2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The converter first expresses the entered value in C\/m\u00b2, then divides by the factor for the target unit. This changes the numerical value without changing the physical surface charge density.<\/p>\n<p>\r\n<\/section>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-459\">.calculation-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section id=\"calculation\" class=\"calculation-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculation-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"calculation-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display\"><span class=\"icon icon-unordered-list\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Surface Charge Density \u2013 Calculation Example<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> convert the default value of 0.000001 C\/m\u00b2 to \u00b5C\/m\u00b2.<\/p>\n<p>\\[ 0.000001\\ \\mathrm{C\/m^2}\\times\\frac{1}{10^{-6}}=1\\ \\mu\\mathrm{C\/m^2} \\]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result:<\/strong> 1 \u00b5C\/m\u00b2.<\/p>\n<p>\n\r\n<\/section>\n<h2>How to use the calculator<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Enter a nonnegative number in <strong>Surface charge density<\/strong>. The default is 0.000001.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the unit of that number in <strong>From unit<\/strong>. The default is C\/m\u00b2.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the unit you need in <strong>To unit<\/strong>. The default is \u00b5C\/m\u00b2.<\/li>\n<li>Read <strong>Converted Surface Charge Density<\/strong>. The unit appears alongside the converted number.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>You can select the same unit in both menus to leave the value unchanged. If your source gives a value in scientific notation, you can enter it that way\u2014for example, <code>1e-6<\/code> for 0.000001\u2014if your browser accepts that notation in the number field.<\/p>\n<h2>What surface charge density means<\/h2>\n<p>Surface charge density describes how much electric charge is associated with a unit area of a surface. Its SI unit is coulombs per square meter (C\/m\u00b2). For charge spread uniformly over an area, the density is the total charge divided by that area: \\(\\sigma=Q\/A\\). If the charge varies across the surface, the density at a particular point describes the charge per unit area near that point. Converting units does not determine how the charge is distributed.<\/p>\n<p>The quantity is useful when describing charged plates, conductor surfaces, insulating films, and interfaces in electrostatic models. For example, 1 \u00b5C\/m\u00b2 and 0.000001 C\/m\u00b2 describe the same density. The larger-looking number in \u00b5C\/m\u00b2 does not mean that more charge is present; a microcoulomb is one millionth of a coulomb. Keeping units consistent matters when combining a density with an area or using it in an electric-field calculation.<\/p>\n<p>Surface charge density is not the same as electric current, which measures charge flowing per unit time. If you need to change current units, use the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/electric-current\/\">Electric Current converter<\/a>. Likewise, <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/linear-current-density\/\">Linear Current Density<\/a> concerns current per unit length, not stored charge per unit area; its units cannot be converted directly to C\/m\u00b2.<\/p>\n<h2>Supported units and conversion factors<\/h2>\n<p>Each factor below gives the number of C\/m\u00b2 in one unit. The calculator multiplies by the factor for <strong>From unit<\/strong> and divides by the factor for <strong>To unit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>C\/m\u00b2:<\/strong> 1 C\/m\u00b2; the SI unit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u00b5C\/m\u00b2:<\/strong> \\(10^{-6}\\) C\/m\u00b2 per \u00b5C\/m\u00b2.<\/li>\n<li><strong>nC\/m\u00b2:<\/strong> \\(10^{-9}\\) C\/m\u00b2 per nC\/m\u00b2.<\/li>\n<li><strong>pC\/m\u00b2:<\/strong> \\(10^{-12}\\) C\/m\u00b2 per pC\/m\u00b2.<\/li>\n<li><strong>esu\/cm\u00b2:<\/strong> approximately \\(3.33564\\times10^{-5}\\) C\/m\u00b2 per esu\/cm\u00b2. Here, esu denotes a statcoulomb, a unit from the CGS electrostatic system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The area unit remains square meters for the first four choices. In esu\/cm\u00b2, both the charge unit and the area unit differ, so replacing only the charge prefix would give an incorrect conversion. This converter does not offer nC\/cm\u00b2 or other per-square-centimeter units.<\/p>\n<h2>Assumptions and practical limits<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Surface charge density<\/strong> field has a minimum of zero. Physical surface charge density can be negative, but this calculator is set up for nonnegative inputs, so it cannot directly convert a signed negative value. To convert the magnitude of a negative density, enter its positive magnitude and retain the negative sign when reporting the result separately. Zero converts to zero in every supported unit.<\/p>\n<p>The esu\/cm\u00b2 factor used by the calculator is rounded to 3.33564 \u00d7 10\u207b\u2075 C\/m\u00b2. Conversions involving esu\/cm\u00b2 are therefore approximate. The calculator also rounds its displayed numerical result to ten decimal places. A very small nonzero result\u2014for example, 1 pC\/m\u00b2 converted to C\/m\u00b2\u2014may consequently display as zero. If that happens, keep the value in a smaller unit or calculate with scientific notation when the small magnitude matters.<\/p>\n<p>A unit conversion alone does not tell you the total charge on a surface. For a uniform density, multiply the density in C\/m\u00b2 by the area in m\u00b2 to obtain charge in coulombs. For a nonuniform density, the charge must instead be summed over the surface. Check the area units and whether the supplied density represents the whole surface or only a local region before using the converted value.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Convert surface charge density between C\/m\u00b2, \u00b5C\/m\u00b2, nC\/m\u00b2, pC\/m\u00b2, and esu\/cm\u00b2. Enter a nonnegative value and select the starting and target units.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-55900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-converters","tag-physics-units"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55900","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55900"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55900\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65313,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55900\/revisions\/65313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}