Frequency to NR-ARFCN Converter
Enter a frequency in MHz to get the corresponding 5G NR-ARFCN on the 3GPP global raster and auto-identify the matching NR band (FR1 and FR2), per 3GPP TS 38.104 §5.4.2.1.
Valid range: 0 – 100,000 MHz
NR band DL reference
| Band | DL (MHz) | Duplex | FR | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n1 | 2110–2170 | FDD | FR1 | 2100 MHz IMT |
| n3 | 1805–1880 | FDD | FR1 | 1800 MHz DCS |
| n5 | 869–894 | FDD | FR1 | 850 MHz |
| n7 | 2620–2690 | FDD | FR1 | 2600 MHz IMT-E |
| n8 | 925–960 | FDD | FR1 | 900 MHz E-GSM |
| n20 | 791–821 | FDD | FR1 | 800 MHz DD |
| n28 | 758–803 | FDD | FR1 | 700 MHz APT |
| n38 | 2570–2620 | TDD | FR1 | 2600 MHz TDD |
| n40 | 2300–2400 | TDD | FR1 | 2300 MHz TDD |
| n41 | 2496–2690 | TDD | FR1 | 2500 MHz BRS/CBRS |
| n66 | 2110–2200 | FDD | FR1 | AWS-3 |
| n71 | 617–652 | FDD | FR1 | 600 MHz |
| n77 | 3300–4200 | TDD | FR1 | C-band extended |
| n78 | 3300–3800 | TDD | FR1 | C-band |
| n79 | 4400–5000 | TDD | FR1 | 4.5 GHz |
| n257 | 26500–29500 | TDD | FR2 | 28 GHz mmWave |
| n258 | 24250–27500 | TDD | FR2 | 26 GHz mmWave |
| n260 | 37000–40000 | TDD | FR2 | 39 GHz mmWave |
| n261 | 27500–28350 | TDD | FR2 | 28 GHz US mmWave |
About frequency-to-ARFCN conversion
The 5G New Radio air interface addresses every carrier frequency through a single integer — the NR-ARFCN — computed on a piecewise global raster. Below 3 GHz the raster step Δf_global is 5 kHz; between 3 GHz and 24.25 GHz it widens to 15 kHz; above 24.25 GHz, in the FR2 mmWave range, it is 60 kHz. The reference formula is F_REF = F_REF_Offs + Δf_global × (N_REF − N_REF_Offs), with offsets (0, 600000) and (24250.08 MHz, 2016667).
This converter takes a frequency in MHz, snaps it to the nearest raster point, and cross-checks it against the downlink ranges of every common 3GPP NR band so you immediately see which band (or bands — n77 and n78 overlap, n41 and n7 overlap) the frequency belongs to.
Typical users
RF planners validating carrier plans, spectrum analysts mapping unknown emissions to NR bands, drive-test engineers reconciling scanner frequencies with OSS configuration, and protocol engineers decoding ARFCNs from RRC logs.
Related tools
- NR-ARFCN Calculator — bidirectional ARFCN ↔ frequency converter.
- NR Band Reference — filterable table of 3GPP NR bands.
- Frequency to EARFCN — LTE equivalent converter.
How to look up an NR-ARFCN from a frequency
- Enter the frequency. Type the carrier frequency in MHz (for example 3500 or 28000).
- Convert. The tool maps it to the nearest NR-ARFCN using the correct raster for that range.
- Check the band match. Read the matching NR band(s) and the FR1/FR2 designation to confirm the allocation.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I find the NR-ARFCN for a given frequency?
- Rearrange the global formula to N_REF = N_REF-Offs + (F_REF − F_REF-Offs) / ΔF_Global. Enter the frequency in MHz and the tool selects the correct range, divides by the right raster (5, 15 or 60 kHz) and rounds to the nearest valid ARFCN.
- Which NR band does my frequency fall into?
- A frequency can sit inside more than one band (for example 3500 MHz is in both n77 and n78). The tool cross-checks your frequency against the downlink ranges of the common 3GPP bands and lists every band it matches, so you can pick the one your deployment uses.
- Why doesn’t my frequency land exactly on an ARFCN?
- The NR channel raster is discrete, so an arbitrary frequency rarely falls precisely on a grid point. The result is rounded to the nearest raster step, which means a tiny offset between your input and the exact ARFCN centre frequency is normal.
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