Convert Gigakelvin to Millikelvin
Convert gigakelvins to millikelvins instantly. 1 GK = 1e+12 mK — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a reference-temperature table and worked examples. Also check the Millikelvin to Gigakelvin converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Gigakelvin
One gigakelvin (GK) is one billion kelvins (10⁹ K).
Formed with the SI prefix 'giga-' (from Greek 'gigas', giant) applied to the kelvin base unit.
Extreme astrophysics — collapsing supernova cores reach roughly 100 GK, and Big Bang nucleosynthesis took place at about 1 GK.
The giga- prefix was adopted by the CGPM in 1960 as part of the SI.
Millikelvin
One millikelvin (mK) is one thousandth of a kelvin (10⁻³ K), measured upward from absolute zero.
Formed with the SI prefix 'milli-' (from Latin 'mille', a thousand) applied to the kelvin base unit.
Cryogenics and low-temperature physics — the dilution refrigerators that cool superconducting quantum computers operate at roughly 10–20 mK.
The milli- prefix belongs to the original metric system of 1795 and was carried into the SI in 1960; the kelvin became an SI base unit in 1954.
Gigakelvin to Millikelvin conversion formula
The exact relationship between gigakelvins and millikelvins:
To convert gigakelvins to millikelvins, multiply the value in gigakelvins by 1e+12. To reverse, multiply the value in millikelvins by 1e-12.
Both units count upward from absolute zero, so 0 GK = 0 mK and the relationship is a pure ratio.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in millikelvins updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Millikelvin to Gigakelvin converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert gigakelvins to millikelvins
- Write down the temperature in gigakelvins (GK).
- Multiply the value in gigakelvins by 1e+12.
- The result is the same temperature expressed in millikelvins (mK).
- To reverse, multiply the value in millikelvins by 1e-12 — or open the Millikelvin to Gigakelvin converter.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 GK to mK:
1 × 1e+12 = 1e+12 mK
Example 2 — Convert 100 GK to mK:
100 × 1e+12 = 1e+14 mK
Gigakelvin to Millikelvin conversion table
Physically meaningful reference temperatures, from absolute zero to the surface of the Sun, converted from gigakelvins to millikelvins:
| Gigakelvin [GK] | Millikelvin [mK] | Reference point |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | Absolute zero |
| 2.3315e-7 | 233150 | Where Celsius and Fahrenheit coincide (−40°) |
| 2.553722e-7 | 255372.2222222222 | Zero Fahrenheit (0 °F) |
| 2.7315e-7 | 273150 | Water freezes (0 °C / 32 °F) |
| 2.7316e-7 | 273160 | Triple point of water |
| 2.8315e-7 | 283150 | Cool day (10 °C / 50 °F) |
| 2.9315e-7 | 293150 | Room temperature (20 °C / 68 °F) |
| 2.9815e-7 | 298150 | Standard laboratory temperature (25 °C) |
| 3.0315e-7 | 303150 | Hot day (30 °C / 86 °F) |
| 3.1015e-7 | 310150 | Human body temperature (37 °C / 98.6 °F) |
| 3.1315e-7 | 313150 | Heat-wave day (40 °C / 104 °F) |
| 3.2315e-7 | 323150 | Hot tap water (50 °C / 122 °F) |
| 3.7315e-7 | 373150 | Water boils (100 °C / 212 °F) |
| 4.5315e-7 | 453150 | Moderate baking oven (180 °C / 356 °F) |
| 5.778e-6 | 5778000 | Surface of the Sun (≈5,505 °C) |
Frequently asked questions
How many millikelvins is 1 gigakelvin?
How do I convert gigakelvins to millikelvins?
How do I convert millikelvins back to gigakelvins?
How many millikelvins is 100 gigakelvins?
Can a temperature be below absolute zero?
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Scientific & Fixed-Point (3 units)
SI Prefixed Kelvin (4 units)
Sources & references
Conversion relationship (1 GK = 1e+12 mK) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- BIPM — International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90)
The internationally agreed practical temperature scale, defining fixed points (including the triple point of water at 273.16 K) and interpolation instruments used by national metrology institutes for thermometer calibration worldwide.
- CODATA Internationally Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants
Committee on Data of the International Science Council; authoritative source for the masses of fundamental particles (electron, proton, neutron) and the atomic mass constant.