Milligrams to micrograms
Multiply milligrams by 1,000 to get micrograms.
10 mg = 10,000 mcg
How to convert milligrams to micrograms
The microgram is one millionth of a gram (10⁻⁹ kg), written mcg in medicine. The milligram is one thousandth of a gram (10⁻⁶ kg).
Worked example — 10 mg: 10 × 1,000 = 10,000 mcg.
Milligrams to micrograms table
| Milligrams | Micrograms |
|---|---|
| 0.5 mg | 500 mcg |
| 1 mg | 1,000 mcg |
| 2 mg | 2,000 mcg |
| 5 mg | 5,000 mcg |
| 10 mg | 10,000 mcg |
| 25 mg | 25,000 mcg |
| 50 mg | 50,000 mcg |
| 100 mg | 100,000 mcg |
| 500 mg | 500,000 mcg |
Reverse and related
About milligrams and micrograms
Milligram (mg)
1 mg = 1,000 mcgDefinition. One thousandth of a gram (10⁻⁶ kg)
History and origin
The milligram is one thousandth of a gram, part of the decimal metric system. Its small size suits doses and trace amounts.
Current use
Milligrams are the everyday unit for medication doses and for nutrients on food labels.
Source: BIPM, The International System of Units (SI), 9th ed. (2019)
Microgram (mcg)
1 mcg = 0.001 mgDefinition. One millionth of a gram (10⁻⁹ kg), written mcg in medicine
History and origin
The microgram is one millionth of a gram, a thousandth of a milligram. In medicine it is written mcg rather than µg to avoid a handwritten mix-up with mg.
Current use
Micrograms measure very small doses of vitamins and drugs, such as vitamin D, folic acid and thyroid medication.
Source: BIPM, The International System of Units (SI), 9th ed. (2019)
Where people use this
Milligrams: medication doses, nutrition labels. Micrograms: vitamin and drug doses. 1 mg is exactly 1000 mcg.
Every value is carried to full double precision; the display is rounded.
Both units are defined in BIPM, The International System of Units (SI), 9th ed. (2019).
Questions people ask
How many mcg in a mg?
One milligram is exactly 1000 micrograms.
How many mcg is 5 mg?
5 mg is 5000 mcg.
How many mcg is 0.5 mg?
Half a milligram is 500 mcg.