How do I get the EARFCN from a frequency?

Invert the TS 36.101 relation: for downlink N_DL = N_OFFS-DL + (F_DL − F_DL_low) / 0.1, and similarly for uplink. Enter the frequency, the tool finds the band whose range contains it and rounds to the nearest 100 kHz raster point to give the EARFCN.

Can one frequency produce more than one EARFCN?

Yes. Some LTE bands overlap in frequency (for example several 700 MHz and 850 MHz bands), so a single frequency can be valid in more than one band, each with its own offset and EARFCN. The tool reports every band that contains the frequency.

Does this give me the DL or the UL EARFCN?

Both, where they apply. For an FDD band the downlink and uplink sit on different frequencies, so you usually enter a DL frequency to get the DL EARFCN. The tool labels each result so you know which carrier and direction it belongs to.

Frequency to EARFCN Converter

Enter an LTE frequency in MHz to get the EARFCN, identify the matching 3GPP band and detect whether the value falls in the downlink or uplink range. Based on 3GPP TS 36.101 §5.7.

Frequency (MHz)

EARFCN raster step is 100 kHz (0.1 MHz).

1 match for 1842.5 MHz

Band 3 · DL

1,575

Name: 1800 MHz DCS

Duplex: FDD

DL: 1805–1880 MHz

BW: 1.4,3,5,10,15,20 MHz

LTE band reference (TS 36.101)

Band	DL (MHz)	N_OFFS_DL	UL (MHz)	N_OFFS_UL	BW (MHz)	Duplex
B1	2110–2170	0	1920–1980	18,000	5,10,15,20	FDD
B2	1930–1990	600	1850–1910	18,600	1.4,3,5,10,15,20	FDD
B3	1805–1880	1,200	1710–1785	19,200	1.4,3,5,10,15,20	FDD
B4	2110–2155	1,950	1710–1755	19,950	1.4,3,5,10,15,20	FDD
B5	869–894	2,400	824–849	20,400	1.4,3,5,10	FDD
B7	2620–2690	2,750	2500–2570	20,750	5,10,15,20	FDD
B8	925–960	3,450	880–915	21,450	1.4,3,5,10	FDD
B12	729–746	5,010	699–716	23,010	1.4,3,5,10	FDD
B13	746–756	5,180	777–787	23,180	5,10	FDD
B17	734–746	5,730	704–716	23,730	5,10	FDD
B20	791–821	6,150	832–862	24,150	5,10,15,20	FDD
B25	1930–1995	8,040	1850–1915	26,040	1.4,3,5,10,15,20	FDD
B26	859–894	8,690	814–849	26,690	1.4,3,5,10,15	FDD
B28	758–803	9,210	703–748	27,210	3,5,10,15,20	FDD
B38	2570–2620	37,750	2570–2620	37,750	5,10,15,20	TDD
B40	2300–2400	38,650	2300–2400	38,650	5,10,15,20	TDD
B41	2496–2690	39,650	2496–2690	39,650	5,10,15,20	TDD
B42	3400–3600	41,590	3400–3600	41,590	5,10,15,20	TDD
B66	2110–2200	66,436	1710–1780	131,972	1.4,3,5,10,15,20	FDD
B71	617–652	68,586	663–698	133,122	5,10,15,20	FDD

About the EARFCN

E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (EARFCN) is the integer index LTE uses to identify every 100 kHz carrier raster point. For downlink the formula is EARFCN_DL = N_OFFS_DL + (F_DL − F_DL_low) / 0.1; for uplink it is EARFCN_UL = N_OFFS_UL + (F_UL − F_UL_low) / 0.1. The offsets and low-edge frequencies are defined per band in 3GPP TS 36.101.

TDD bands (38, 40, 41, 42) share one range for DL and UL so the same EARFCN serves both directions. FDD bands have separate DL and UL numbering blocks — which is why a single frequency can only be DL or UL, never both, in a given band.

Typical users

LTE RF planners, field drive-test engineers correlating scanner measurements with cell configuration, and L3 protocol engineers decoding EARFCNs from RRCConnectionReconfiguration, SIB1 and measurement reports.

Related tools

Frequency to NR-ARFCN — 5G NR equivalent.
NR-ARFCN Calculator — bidirectional 5G converter.
NR Band Reference — filterable NR band table.

How to use this tool

Enter the frequency. Type the LTE carrier frequency in MHz.
Convert. The tool matches it to the LTE band(s) covering that frequency.
Read the EARFCN. See the resulting EARFCN, the band, and whether it is the downlink or uplink carrier.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get the EARFCN from a frequency?: Invert the TS 36.101 relation: for downlink N_DL = N_OFFS-DL + (F_DL − F_DL_low) / 0.1, and similarly for uplink. Enter the frequency, the tool finds the band whose range contains it and rounds to the nearest 100 kHz raster point to give the EARFCN.
Can one frequency produce more than one EARFCN?: Yes. Some LTE bands overlap in frequency (for example several 700 MHz and 850 MHz bands), so a single frequency can be valid in more than one band, each with its own offset and EARFCN. The tool reports every band that contains the frequency.
Does this give me the DL or the UL EARFCN?: Both, where they apply. For an FDD band the downlink and uplink sit on different frequencies, so you usually enter a DL frequency to get the DL EARFCN. The tool labels each result so you know which carrier and direction it belongs to.

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