Thermal Expansion Converter

Convert coefficients of thermal expansion between 1/K, 1/°C, 1/°F, microstrain/K, and microstrain/°F.

Convert instantly

Enter a value and choose the units. Your answer updates as you type.

Value

From

Result

1 Per degree Celsius (°C⁻¹)

Quick reference

Per kelvin (K⁻¹)1 base units
Per degree Celsius (°C⁻¹)1 base units
Per degree Fahrenheit (°F⁻¹)1.8 base units
Microstrain per kelvin (µm/m·K)0.000001 base units
Microstrain per degree Fahrenheit (µm/m·°F)0.0000018 base units
Per degree Rankine (°R⁻¹)1.8 base units

About the Thermal Expansion Converter

The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) describes fractional length change per temperature interval. This converter treats coefficients correctly: because a Fahrenheit interval is 5/9 of a kelvin interval, 1/°F is converted to 1/K with a factor of 9/5. Steel's approximate 12 microstrain/K is 0.000012 K⁻¹.

Use CTE values when sizing expansion joints, choosing dissimilar materials, or estimating thermal stress. For example, 20 µm/m·K over a 50 K rise predicts a 0.001 strain before restraint effects. Pair it with the Temperature Interval Converter for ΔT and Thermal Conductivity Converter for heat-flow context.

Frequently asked questions

What is the coefficient of thermal expansion?

It is the fractional change in length per unit temperature interval, commonly expressed in 1/K or microstrain/K.

How does 1/°F convert to 1/K?

Multiply a coefficient expressed per °F by 9/5 to express the same coefficient per K.

What does 20 microstrain/K mean?

It means a material length changes by 20 millionths of its original length for each kelvin of temperature change, before other constraints.

Take this calculation further

Browse the converters calculators collection for more tools in this subject.

For a related calculation, use Thermal Resistance Converter to convert area-normalized thermal resistance between m²·K/W, cm²·K/W, m²·K/kW, and ft²·°F·h per Btu. Alternatively, use Temperature Interval Converter to convert temperature differences correctly between Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, and Rankine intervals without applying absolute-temperature offsets.

For the underlying method, read A Practical Guide to Thermal Conductivity and Insulation.