Electrical Resistivity Conversion Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/10/2026
To convert an electrical resistivity, it is reduced to a common unit (the ohm-meter), then converted into the new unit. For example, the resistivity of copper, often quoted as 1.68 µΩ·cm, equals 1.68×10⁻⁸ Ω·m.
Explanation
Electrical resistivity measures a material's ability to oppose the flow of electric current, an intrinsic property of the material itself — unlike resistance (see our electrical resistance conversion calculator), which also depends on the shape and dimensions of a specific component (resistance = resistivity × length ÷ cross-section). The ohm-meter (Ω·m) is the SI unit, but material resistivity tables (metals, semiconductors) very often quote values in ohm-centimeter (Ω·cm) or microohm-centimeter (µΩ·cm), units that are more practical for handling the small values typical of good conductors. The resistivity of copper, for example, is commonly expressed at around 1.68 µΩ·cm in electrical reference tables, which corresponds exactly to 1.68×10⁻⁸ Ω·m in SI units — both values denote the same physical property, only the unit of expression changes. Converting a resistivity means multiplying the value by the factor that reduces it to ohm-meter, then dividing by the target unit's factor — exactly what this calculator does, on the same principle as our electrical conductance conversion calculator, the inverse quantity of resistance.
Example: resistivity of copper, 1.68 µΩ·cm to Ω·m
Inputs
Value: 1.68. Starting unit: µΩ·cm. Target unit: Ω·m.
Calculation
1.68 µΩ·cm × 10⁻⁸ (µΩ·cm factor) = 1.68×10⁻⁸ Ω·m.
Result
The resistivity of copper is 1.68×10⁻⁸ Ω·m, that is 0.0000000168 Ω·m.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between resistivity and resistance?
Resistivity is a property of the material itself, independent of its shape (copper always has the same resistivity, whether it is a thin wire or a thick bar). Resistance, on the other hand, also depends on the geometry of the specific component: resistance = resistivity × length ÷ cross-section, which is why a longer or thinner wire has a higher resistance for the same material.
Why do material tables use µΩ·cm rather than Ω·m?
Because good electrical conductors (copper, aluminum, silver) have extremely low resistivities in ohm-meter (on the order of 10⁻⁸), numbers that are impractical to handle and compare visually. The microohm-centimeter brings these values back to numbers close to unity (about 1 to 3 for common metals), more readable in a comparison table.
Does this conversion also apply to semiconductors and insulators?
Yes, the conversion principle stays the same whatever the range of values: semiconductors show resistivities much higher than metals (on the order of 10⁻⁵ to 10⁸ Ω·m depending on doping), and insulators even higher values (up to 10¹⁶ Ω·m), but the same conversion formula applies in every case.