20 milliseconds is equal to 20,000 microseconds.
To convert milliseconds to microseconds, you multiply the value by 1,000 because there are 1,000 microseconds in a single millisecond. Thus, 20 milliseconds becomes 20 times 1,000 microseconds.
Conversion Tool
Result in microseconds:
Conversion Formula
The formula for converting milliseconds (ms) to microseconds (µs) is:
microseconds = milliseconds × 1,000
This works because 1 millisecond is exactly 1/1,000 of a second, and 1 microsecond is 1/1,000,000 of a second. So, there are 1,000 microseconds in every millisecond. Multiplying by 1,000 scales the milliseconds value up to microseconds.
Example: Convert 20 ms to µs
- Start with 20 milliseconds
- Multiply by 1,000: 20 × 1,000 = 20,000
- Result: 20,000 microseconds
Conversion Example
- Convert 5 ms to µs
- Multiply 5 by 1,000
- 5 × 1,000 = 5,000 µs
- So, 5 milliseconds equals 5,000 microseconds.
- Convert 12.5 ms to µs
- 12.5 × 1,000 = 12,500 µs
- This means 12.5 milliseconds is 12,500 microseconds.
- Convert 0.75 ms to µs
- Multiply 0.75 by 1,000
- 0.75 × 1,000 = 750 µs
- Therefore, 0.75 milliseconds equals 750 microseconds.
- Convert 33 ms to µs
- 33 × 1,000 = 33,000 µs
- Thus, 33 milliseconds is 33,000 microseconds.
- Convert 100 ms to µs
- 100 × 1,000 = 100,000 µs
- So, 100 milliseconds equals 100,000 microseconds.
Conversion Chart
| Milliseconds (ms) | Microseconds (µs) |
|---|---|
| -5.0 | -5000 |
| 0.0 | 0 |
| 5.0 | 5000 |
| 10.0 | 10000 |
| 15.0 | 15000 |
| 20.0 | 20000 |
| 25.0 | 25000 |
| 30.0 | 30000 |
| 35.0 | 35000 |
| 40.0 | 40000 |
| 45.0 | 45000 |
This chart shows how milliseconds convert microseconds by multiplying each value by 1,000. Negative values means negative time delays or measurements, which sometimes occur in calculations or simulations. You can use the table to quickly find microseconds without calculation.
Related Conversion Questions
- How many microseconds are there in 20 milliseconds exactly?
- What conversion factor do I use to turn 20 ms into microseconds?
- Can 20 milliseconds be expressed as 20000 microseconds?
- If I have 20 milliseconds, how do I calculate the equivalent microseconds?
- Is 20 milliseconds always equal to 20000 microseconds in electronics timing?
- How to convert 20 ms to microseconds using a formula?
- Why does multiplying 20 milliseconds by 1000 give microseconds?
Conversion Definitions
Milliseconds: A millisecond is a unit of time equal to one thousandth of a second (0.001 seconds). It measures very short time intervals, often used in computing, telecommunications, and physics to mark durations or delays that are smaller than seconds but longer than microseconds.
Microseconds: A microsecond is a time unit representing one millionth of a second (0.000001 seconds). It measures extremely brief time spans used in high-speed electronics, signal processing, and scientific measurements requiring precision on a very small scale.
Conversion FAQs
Why is the conversion factor between milliseconds and microseconds 1,000?
The factor 1,000 exists because a millisecond is one thousand times larger than a microsecond. Since 1 millisecond equals 0.001 seconds and 1 microsecond equals 0.000001 seconds, multiplying milliseconds by 1,000 scales the value correctly into microseconds.
Can negative milliseconds be converted to microseconds?
Yes, negative milliseconds convert to negative microseconds by the same multiplication. Negative time values may represent time differences or offsets in calculations, so -5 ms becomes -5,000 µs, preserving the sign and magnitude.
Are there any rounding errors in converting milliseconds to microseconds?
Converting by multiplying by 1,000 is exact for integer and decimal values that can be represented precisely. However, floating-point numbers with many decimals might introduce minor rounding when displayed, but the underlying conversion remains mathematically accurate.
How to convert microseconds back to milliseconds?
To convert microseconds back to milliseconds, you divide the microseconds value by 1,000. For example, 20,000 microseconds divided by 1,000 equals 20 milliseconds, reversing the conversion formula.
Why use microseconds instead of milliseconds in measurements?
Microseconds give finer time resolution than milliseconds, useful when measuring very fast processes like computer instruction cycles, signal timings, or scientific experiments where milliseconds are too coarse to capture subtle differences.

