5G NR-ARFCN Calculator
Convert between NR Absolute Radio-Frequency Channel Number (NR-ARFCN) and frequency in MHz for every 5G NR band — FR1 sub-6 GHz and FR2 mmWave — using the exact global frequency raster defined in 3GPP TS 38.104 §5.4.2.
Valid range: 0 – 3,279,165
Common ARFCN references
| Reference | ARFCN | Frequency (MHz) |
|---|---|---|
| n78 center | 636666 | 3500.000 |
| n77 center | 650000 | 3750.000 |
| n258 low (FR2) | 2016667 | 24250.080 |
| n1 DL low | 422000 | 2110.000 |
| n41 DL low | 499200 | 2496.000 |
Supported NR bands (TS 38.104)
| Band | FR | DL range (MHz) | ARFCN range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n1 | FR1 | 2110–2170 | 422,000–434,000 | 2100 MHz IMT |
| n3 | FR1 | 1805–1880 | 361,000–376,000 | 1800 MHz DCS |
| n5 | FR1 | 869–894 | 173,800–178,800 | 850 MHz |
| n7 | FR1 | 2620–2690 | 524,000–538,000 | 2600 MHz IMT-E |
| n8 | FR1 | 925–960 | 185,000–192,000 | 900 MHz E-GSM |
| n28 | FR1 | 758–803 | 151,600–160,600 | 700 MHz APT |
| n38 | FR1 | 2570–2620 | 514,000–524,000 | 2600 MHz TDD |
| n41 | FR1 | 2496–2690 | 499,200–537,999 | 2500 MHz BRS/CBRS (TDD) |
| n66 | FR1 | 2110–2200 | 422,000–440,000 | AWS-3 |
| n77 | FR1 | 3300–4200 | 620,000–680,000 | C-band extended (TDD) |
| n78 | FR1 | 3300–3800 | 620,000–653,333 | C-band (TDD) |
| n79 | FR1 | 4400–5000 | 693,334–733,333 | 4.5 GHz (TDD) |
| n257 | FR2 | 26500–29500 | 2,054,166–2,104,165 | 28 GHz mmWave |
| n258 | FR2 | 24250–27500 | 2,016,667–2,070,832 | 26 GHz mmWave |
| n260 | FR2 | 37000–40000 | 2,229,166–2,279,165 | 39 GHz mmWave |
| n261 | FR2 | 27500–28350 | 2,070,833–2,084,999 | 28 GHz US mmWave |
About the NR-ARFCN
The NR Absolute Radio-Frequency Channel Number (NR-ARFCN) is the integer index 3GPP uses to address every carrier frequency on the 5G New Radio global frequency raster. Instead of carrying MHz values around in signalling, the gNB and the UE exchange a single integer — and both sides compute the corresponding RF centre using the same deterministic formula from 3GPP TS 38.104.
The global raster is piecewise: below 3 GHz the step Δf_global is 5 kHz, between 3 GHz and 24.25 GHz it is 15 kHz, and 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). Our calculator applies the exact offsets (0, 600000, 2016667) and raster steps to give you a value accurate to the raster grid.
Who uses this calculator?
RF planning engineers use NR-ARFCN math when laying out sector frequencies and neighbour relations in MOCN and non-MOCN deployments. Field engineers look it up during commissioning to validate that a cell is broadcasting on the correct carrier. Drive testers and RF optimisers map scanner captures from frequency to ARFCN and back while troubleshooting PCI collisions, missing neighbours and handover failures. Protocol testers — anyone working with RRCReconfiguration, MeasObjectNR or SIB1 freqBandIndicatorNR — will see ARFCNs in every log and need to translate them on the fly.
Related concepts
- LTE EARFCN Converter — the 4G equivalent from TS 36.101.
- 5G Numerology Planner — subcarrier spacing & slot timing.
- Wavelength ↔ Frequency — useful for antenna element sizing.
How to convert between NR-ARFCN and frequency
- Pick a direction. Choose ARFCN → frequency or frequency → ARFCN depending on what you have.
- Enter the value. Type the NR-ARFCN (e.g. 633333) or the frequency in MHz (e.g. 3500).
- Optionally select a band. Pick the NR band to sanity-check that the result lands inside that band’s allocation.
- Read the result. See the converted frequency or ARFCN plus the channel raster (5, 15 or 60 kHz) used for that range.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I convert an NR-ARFCN to a frequency?
- Apply the global formula F_REF = F_REF-Offs + ΔF_Global × (N_REF − N_REF-Offs) from TS 38.104. The offset and channel raster depend on which of the three ranges your ARFCN falls in. Enter the ARFCN above and the calculator picks the right range automatically and gives you the centre frequency in MHz.
- What is the NR-ARFCN formula and what are the raster steps?
- 3GPP splits the whole NR spectrum into three blocks. For ARFCN 0–599999 the step (ΔF_Global) is 5 kHz with offsets (0 MHz, 0); for 600000–2016666 it is 15 kHz with offsets (3000 MHz, 600000); and for 2016667–3279165 it is 60 kHz with offsets (24250.08 MHz, 2016667). The 5 kHz raster is why an ARFCN below 3 GHz maps to a frequency on a 5 kHz grid.
- Which ARFCN do I use for n78 at 3500 MHz?
- 3500 MHz sits in the 15 kHz range, so N_REF = 600000 + (3500 − 3000)/0.015 = 633333. n78 spans roughly ARFCN 620000–653333. Note this is the channel raster point, not the SSB (GSCN) raster, which is spaced more coarsely for cell search.
- Is the ARFCN the same in FR1 and FR2?
- It is one continuous numbering scheme, but the raster widens with frequency: 5 kHz in the low range, 15 kHz mid-band, and 60 kHz across FR2 mmWave. So an FR2 band like n257 uses ARFCNs above 2,000,000 on a 60 kHz grid, while FR1 bands stay on the finer rasters.
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