Direct answer
One nanometer (1 nm) equals 10⁻⁹ meters, one thousandth of a micrometer. It sits near the scale of small molecules and is about half the diameter of the DNA double helix.
Representative value1 nm
In meters1 × 10⁻⁹ m
Measurement typeCharacteristic length
Put it in context
What are we measuring at this scale?
DNA is about 2 nm in diameter, while characteristic atomic dimensions are a few tenths of a nanometer. These are different measurement types: DNA uses a molecular diameter, while an atom has a diffuse quantum boundary.
Scientific visualization
One nanometre
One billionth of a metre, near the scale of small molecules.
Source and verification
Where the value comes from
ScaleTrip keeps the 1 nm range and the characteristic length label visible together.