mcg to mg Converter
1 mg equals 1000 mcg, so 500 mcg is 0.5 mg. This converter switches between micrograms (mcg), milligrams (mg), and grams (g). Enter an amount and pick the units to read supplement and dosage labels with confidence, or to convert a prescription strength.
Quick answer
There are 1000 micrograms in 1 milligram.
Result
0.5 mg
What this tells you
- •There are 1000 micrograms in 1 milligram.
- •There are 1000 milligrams in 1 gram.
- •mcg is the same as the symbol ug, used for micrograms.
- •Switch the from and to units to convert in either direction.
How to Use
- 1Enter the amount you want to convert.
- 2Choose the unit you are converting from.
- 3Choose the unit you are converting to.
- 4Read the converted amount below.
How It Works
Formula
mg = mcg / 1000Micrograms, milligrams, and grams each step up by a factor of 1000. To convert micrograms to milligrams, divide by 1000. To convert milligrams to micrograms, multiply by 1000. Grams are 1000 times larger than milligrams.
Calculation note: values are processed in the order shown above, using the current input units.
Worked Examples
Convert 500 mcg to mg
Divide 500 by 1000 to get 0.5 mg.
Convert 2 mg to mcg
Multiply 2 by 1000 to get 2000 mcg.
Microgram, Milligram, and Gram Conversions
How the three units relate.
| Amount | In mcg | In mg | In g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mcg | 1 | 0.001 | 0.000001 |
| 1 mg | 1,000 | 1 | 0.001 |
| 1 g | 1,000,000 | 1,000 | 1 |
| 25 mcg | 25 | 0.025 | 0.000025 |
| 500 mcg | 500 | 0.5 | 0.0005 |
mcg and ug both mean micrograms. The symbol ug is sometimes used where the Greek letter is unavailable.
Common mistakes
- Confusing mcg and mg. They differ by 1000 times, so 1000 mcg is only 1 mg.
- Reading ug as a different unit. ug and mcg both mean micrograms.
- Assuming mcg converts to IU. International units are substance specific and do not convert by a fixed factor.