Electromagnetic Spectrum Reference

Full EM spectrum — frequency, wavelength, and typical uses from radio to gamma.

Reference Reference Updated Apr 19, 2026

c = λ · f — wavelength and frequency are inversely related through the speed of light (299 792 458 m/s).

Band	Frequency	Wavelength	Uses
ELF	3–30 Hz	10 000–100 000 km	Submarine comms
SLF	30–300 Hz	1 000–10 000 km	Submarine comms
ULF	300 Hz–3 kHz	100–1 000 km	Mine comms
VLF	3–30 kHz	10–100 km	Navigation, time signals
LF (long wave)	30–300 kHz	1–10 km	AM radio, RFID
MF (medium wave)	300 kHz–3 MHz	100–1 000 m	AM radio
HF (short wave)	3–30 MHz	10–100 m	Ham, aviation, shortwave
VHF	30–300 MHz	1–10 m	FM radio, TV, police
UHF	300 MHz–3 GHz	10 cm–1 m	TV, mobile, WiFi 2.4, BT
SHF	3–30 GHz	1–10 cm	Satellite, radar, WiFi 5/6
EHF	30–300 GHz	1–10 mm	5G mmWave, imaging
THz	0.3–3 THz	0.1–1 mm	Spectroscopy, imaging
Far infrared	3–20 THz	15–100 µm	Thermal imaging
Mid infrared	20–100 THz	3–15 µm	Molecular spectroscopy
Near infrared	100–384 THz	0.78–3 µm	Fiber optics, night vision
Visible light	384–789 THz	380–780 nm	Human vision
UV	789 THz–30 PHz	10–380 nm	Sterilization, lithography
X-ray	30 PHz–30 EHz	0.01–10 nm	Medical imaging
Gamma	>30 EHz	<0.01 nm	Nuclear, astrophysics

Last updated: April 19, 2026