Noise Factor to Noise Figure Calculator

This tool converts Noise Factor (F) to Noise Figure (NF).

Noise Figure to Noise Factor

Formula

NF = 10*Log₁₀(F)

Background

Noise factor (F) is defined as the degradation in Signal-to-Noise ratio due to a component in a signal chain [1].

F = SNR_in/SNR_out

Where SNR_in and SNR_out are the input and output Signal-to-noise ratios, respectively.

Since the SNR at the output of a component or subsystem is always lower than at the input, the Noise Factor F > 1. As a result, the Noise Figure is always a positive value. That is, NF > 0 dB.

What are the units of Noise Factor?

Noise factor is a ratio of Signal-to-noise and therefore it has no units.

References

[1] Noise Figure article on Wikipedia