kHz

Units & Measurements abbreviation · Engineering Unit

kHz stands for Kilohertz, an engineering unit abbreviation.

One thousand hertz, the range of audible sound, AM radio frequencies and audio sampling. AM stations in the Americas sit between 530 and 1,700 kHz, spaced 10 kHz apart, and CD audio is sampled at 44.1 kHz.

Example: Tune to 880 kHz on the AM dial for live traffic updates.

Usage notes

Human hearing tops out near 20 kHz in young people and drops with age, which is why CD sampling at 44.1 kHz, just over twice that, captures the audible range. Ultrasonic cleaners and dog whistles work above 20 kHz. Studio audio is commonly recorded at 48 or 96 kHz.

Related abbreviations

More engineering unit abbreviations

• inH2O – Inches of water column
• inHg – Inches of mercury
• J – Joule
• K – Kelvin
• kcal – Kilocalorie
• kgf – Kilogram-force
• kJ – Kilojoule
• km/h – Kilometers per hour
• km/L – Kilometers per liter
• kmph – Kilometers per hour
• kn – Knot
• kPa – Kilopascal

See all 103 engineering unit abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.