I see terahertz frequencies listed in a research paper. How do they compare to 5G millimetre-wave at 28 GHz?

28 GHz = 0.028 THz. Terahertz research typically spans 0.1–10 THz. The lower terahertz boundary (0.1 THz = 100 GHz) is about 3.6× higher than 5G mmWave. At 1 THz, the frequency is 36× higher than 5G mmWave, with completely different propagation, hardware, and applications. See [MHz to GHz](/frequency/mhz-to-ghz/) for how GHz scales to familiar Wi-Fi.

A terahertz spectrometer measures at 3 THz. How many GHz is that, and how does it compare to my home Wi-Fi?

3 THz = 3,000 GHz. Your Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz is 1,250× lower in frequency. At 3 THz, wavelengths shrink to 100 micrometres — roughly the diameter of a human hair. Terahertz can image through some materials and reveal spectral signatures of specific molecules.

Why do researchers push toward terahertz instead of just using higher GHz frequencies?

THz offers advantages that GHz cannot match: non-ionising radiation safe for human scanning, penetration through materials opaque to visible light, and spectral signatures that reveal molecular composition. At GHz, photon energies are too low to excite molecular vibrations. At THz, the energies match molecular bond modes precisely.

Is terahertz radiation dangerous? I know 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi is considered safe.

THz is safe — non-ionising, like Wi-Fi. THz photon energy at 3 THz is about 12 meV, far below the ionisation threshold of ~13.6 eV for hydrogen. In fact, THz is lower energy than visible light. Airport scanners using 0.5 THz (500 GHz) are approved for routine screening because THz does not damage DNA or tissue.

THz to GHz Converter

Enter a value to instantly convert between frequency units.

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1 Terahertz = 1000 Gigahertz

Key Formulas

Hertz → Kilohertz

kHz = Hz × 0.001

Kilohertz → Hertz

Hz = kHz × 1000

Megahertz → Gigahertz

GHz = MHz × 0.001

Gigahertz → Megahertz

MHz = GHz × 1000

Formula

GHz = THz × 1,000

Terahertz frequencies (0.1–10 THz) bridge the gap between microwave and infrared light, offering unique properties for imaging, spectroscopy, and emerging wireless standards. Gigahertz measures common RF frequencies — Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz, cellular bands, microwave ovens. Converting THz to GHz helps engineers and researchers contextualise where terahertz sits relative to familiar RF systems. A 1 THz signal equals 1,000 GHz — 1,000× higher than the fastest commercial Wi-Fi, but still far lower energy than visible light.

Source: NIST SP 811, Table B.8

Last reviewed: 2026-06-11 · see our methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Real-World Examples

A terahertz spectrometer measuring at 1 THz = 1,000 GHz. This is roughly 400× higher than 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, sitting in the far-infrared region where many molecular resonances appear.

1 THz = 1000 GHz

A 0.5 THz imaging camera for security screening = 500 GHz. Airport body scanners use this sub-millimetre wavelength to detect concealed objects without X-ray exposure.

0.5 THz = 500 GHz

A terahertz pump-probe experiment at 2.45 THz = 2,450 GHz. Researchers studying ultrafast dynamics use this to probe far-infrared vibrational modes in materials.

2.45 THz = 2450 GHz

Lower-frequency terahertz at 0.1 THz = 100 GHz. This range overlaps with emerging 6G proposals and is close to the frequency of passive millimetre-wave security cameras.

0.1 THz = 100 GHz

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THz to GHz Converter

Key Formulas

Formula

Frequently Asked Questions

Real-World Examples

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