Convert Gauss to Maxwells/Square Centimeter
Gauss (G) to Maxwell/Square Centimeter (Mx/cm²) magnetic flux density conversion — enter any value below to get an instant result, or use the table for common values.
Results from this calculator are estimates provided for general informational purposes only, based on formulas, rates, and standards commonly accepted as of 2026. Figures may differ slightly from other calculators or professional sources due to rounding methods, differing assumptions, or regional regulations, and rules may change over time. Always consult a qualified professional — such as a financial advisor, healthcare provider, or other relevant specialist — before making decisions based on these results.
Result
1 G = 1 Mx/cm²
1 Gauss = 1 Maxwells/Square Centimeter
1 Maxwell/Square Centimeter = 1 Gauss
1 G in every supported unit
Conversion chart: Gauss to Maxwells/Square Centimeter
Conversion table
| Gauss (G) | Maxwell/Square Centimeter (Mx/cm²) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 G | 0.01 Mx/cm² |
| 0.1 G | 0.1 Mx/cm² |
| 1 G | 1 Mx/cm² |
| 2 G | 2 Mx/cm² |
| 3 G | 3 Mx/cm² |
| 5 G | 5 Mx/cm² |
| 10 G | 10 Mx/cm² |
| 20 G | 20 Mx/cm² |
| 50 G | 50 Mx/cm² |
| 100 G | 100 Mx/cm² |
| 1000 G | 1000 Mx/cm² |
Gauss (G)
Definition: The CGS unit of magnetic flux density, defined as one maxwell of flux passing through one square centimeter of area — equal to 10⁻⁴ tesla.
History: Named after Carl Friedrich Gauss, the German mathematician and physicist who, together with Wilhelm Weber, built one of the first coherent absolute systems of magnetic units in the 1830s.
Current use: The everyday unit on consumer magnetometers, compass calibration equipment, refrigerator-magnet and permanent-magnet strength ratings, and many physics textbooks, since 1 gauss = 0.0001 tesla gives a far more human-scaled number for everyday magnets than tesla would.
Maxwell/Square Centimeter (Mx/cm²)
Definition: Numerically identical to the gauss — one maxwell of flux spread over one square centimeter of area matches the gauss's own defining relationship (1 G = 1 Mx/cm²) unit for unit.
History: It shares the gauss's CGS origins, simply spelling out the flux-divided-by-area calculation (maxwells over square centimeters) rather than citing the named gauss unit directly.
Current use: Used interchangeably with gauss in CGS-based physics and older electrical engineering literature whenever a derivation naturally produces a maxwell-per-area expression.
Supported Units
| Unit | Symbol | In Tesla |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla | T | 1 T |
| Weber/Square Meter | Wb/m² | 1 T |
| Weber/Square Centimeter | Wb/cm² | 10000 T |
| Weber/Square Inch | Wb/in² | 1550.0031 T |
| Maxwell/Square Meter | Mx/m² | 1 T |
| Maxwell/Square Centimeter | Mx/cm² | 0.0001 T |
| Maxwell/Square Inch | Mx/in² | 1.55E-05 T |
| Gauss | G | 0.0001 T |
| Line/Square Centimeter | ln/cm² | 0.0001 T |
| Line/Square Inch | ln/in² | 1.55E-05 T |
| Gamma | γ | 1E-09 T |
About These Parameters
- Value
- The amount of magnetic flux density you want to convert, expressed in the "From" unit. Accepts decimals, and can represent anything from Earth's weak field (a fraction of a gauss) to an MRI machine's several tesla.
- From Unit
- The unit your input value is currently measured in — an MRI or electromagnet's tesla rating, a permanent magnet's gauss rating, or a geomagnetic survey's gamma reading.
- To Unit
- The unit you want the result converted into. Use the swap button to flip From and To instantly, which is handy when translating a gauss-rated permanent magnet's strength into the modern SI tesla or vice versa.
How Magnetic Flux Density Conversion Works
The Formula
Every unit here is defined by a fixed multiplier relative to the tesla. To convert a value from one unit to another:
result = value × (factor of "From" unit ÷ factor of "To" unit)
For Gauss → Maxwell/Square Centimeter: multiply by 1. For example, 1 G × 1 = 1 Mx/cm².
Flux Density B vs. Field Strength H
Flux density (B, tesla or gauss) and field strength (H, ampere/meter or oersted — see the related Magnetic Field Strength converter) are often used interchangeably in casual speech, but they measure different things. Field strength is the magnetizing force a coil applies from its current and geometry alone. Flux density is how the field actually turns out once a material responds to that force — inside an iron or ferrite core, B can be thousands of times larger than H alone would predict, because the material's own magnetization adds to the applied field. In empty space, the two are simply proportional by a universal constant.
Tesla, Gauss, and Everyday Magnet Strength
A tesla is a large field by everyday standards — MRI scanners run 1.5-3 T, and powerful research electromagnets can reach into the tens of tesla. Compare that to Earth's own field, only about 0.00005 T (roughly 500 milligauss, or 0.5 gauss) at the surface, and it's easy to see why the gauss remains the practical, human-scaled unit for describing refrigerator magnets, compass calibration, and consumer magnetometers — nobody wants to describe a small craft magnet's strength as "0.001 tesla" when "10 gauss" reads far more naturally.
Example
A magnetic flux density of 1 G equals 1 Mx/cm². For scale, Earth's surface field is roughly 0.00005 tesla (about 0.5 gauss, or 50,000 gamma), a small refrigerator magnet is typically a few hundred gauss, and a clinical MRI machine runs at 1.5 to 3 tesla — thirty to sixty thousand times stronger than Earth's own field.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Maxwells/Square Centimeter are in 1 Gauss?
1 Gauss (G) equals exactly 1 Maxwells/Square Centimeter (Mx/cm²).
What's the difference between tesla and gauss?
They measure the same quantity, magnetic flux density, just at different scales: 1 tesla equals 10,000 gauss. Tesla is the modern SI unit used in physics and engineering (MRI machines, electromagnets), while gauss is the older CGS unit that's stuck around for everyday magnets and consumer devices because it produces more human-scaled numbers for typical field strengths.
How strong is Earth's magnetic field compared to a refrigerator magnet?
Earth's surface field is only about 0.5 gauss, while a typical refrigerator or craft magnet is around a few hundred gauss — hundreds of times stronger than Earth's own field, which is exactly why a small magnet can easily override a compass needle held nearby.
Why do geophysicists use gamma instead of tesla or gauss?
Earth's magnetic field and its local variations are measured in nanotesla-scale increments, and describing a field of "0.00005 tesla" or its small local anomalies in tesla or gauss gets unwieldy with all the leading zeros. Gamma (10⁻⁹ tesla) gives geomagnetism and mineral-survey researchers whole, human-readable numbers — Earth's field typically reads as 25,000 to 65,000 gamma depending on location.
Is magnetic flux density the same as magnetic field strength?
Not technically, though the terms are often used loosely as if they were. Flux density (B, tesla/gauss) is how strong the actual magnetic field is, including any contribution from a magnetized material. Field strength (H, ampere/meter or oersted) is only the magnetizing force applied by a coil's current, independent of any material's response. See the related Magnetic Field Strength converter for the H side of this relationship.