RC Filter Cutoff Calculator

Calculate the -3 dB cutoff frequency of a simple RC low-pass or high-pass filter.

Ω
nF

Cutoff Frequency

1,591.5 Hz

Time Constant (RC)0.1000 ms

Cutoff Frequency vs Resistance

RC Filter Cutoff

f_c = 1 / (2 x pi x R x C)

At the cutoff frequency, output is -3 dB (70.7%) of the input. The time constant tau = RC.

Example Calculation

R = 1k, C = 100 nF.

  1. 01C = 100 nF = 1e-7 F
  2. 02f_c = 1 / (2pi x 1000 x 1e-7) = 1591.5 Hz
  3. 03tau = 1000 x 1e-7 = 0.1 ms

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