Century Conversion Tool - Convert Centuries to Any Time Unit
Convert Centuries to Other Units
Quick Conversions
Convert Other Units to Centuries
Related Time / Duration Units
Century Conversion Table
This comprehensive century conversion table shows how various units relate to centuries. Use this reference for quick conversions between centuries and other common time units.
| Conversion | To Unit | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Centuries to years | Years | 100 |
| Centuries to decades | Decades | 10 |
| Centuries to days | Days | 36525 |
| Centuries to hours | Hours | 876600 |
| Centuries to minutes | Minutes | 52596000 |
| Centuries to seconds | Seconds | 3155760000 |
| Centuries to milliseconds | Milliseconds | 3155760000000 |
| Centuries to microseconds | Microseconds | 3.15576e+15 |
| Centuries to nanoseconds | Nanoseconds | 3.15576e+18 |
| Centuries to picoseconds | Picoseconds | 3.15576e+21 |
| Centuries to weeks | Weeks | 5217.86 |
| Centuries to fortnights | Fortnights | 2608.93 |
| Centuries to months | Months | 1200 |
| Centuries to millenniums | Millenniums | 0.1 |
| Centuries to Julian years | Julian Years | 99.9973 |
| Centuries to sidereal years | Sidereal Years | 99.9978 |
| Centuries to tropical years | Tropical Years | 100.001 |
This century conversion reference table provides accurate conversion factors for various time units. All values are based on internationally recognized standards for maximum precision. Note that some conversions use the Gregorian calendar year of 365.25 days for calculations.
What is a Century?
A century is a period of 100 years. The word "century" comes from the Latin "centum," meaning one hundred. Centuries are commonly used to organize historical events and periods, with the first century beginning with year 1 AD and ending with year 100 AD. Our century conversion tool helps you easily convert between centuries and other units.
In the Gregorian calendar, which is the most widely used civil calendar today, a century typically consists of 100 years, though some may have 36,524 or 36,525 days depending on leap years. For example, 1 century equals 100 years, 1,200 months, or approximately 36,525 days.
What is the Definition of a Century?
A century is a period of 100 years. It is not an SI unit, but is accepted for use with the International System of Units (SI). Centuries are used primarily for historical dating and long-term time measurement. All other time units in the metric system are derived from the second, making it essential for time unit conversion:
- Century = 100 years
- Century = 10 decades
- Century = 1,200 months (average)
- Century = 36,525 days (using 365.25-day year)
- Century = 876,600 hours
What are Centuries Used For?
Centuries are used primarily for historical reference, long-term planning, and scientific dating. As a convenient unit for measuring extended periods, centuries help organize human history and geological time scales. Centuries are particularly useful for:
Historical Documentation
Organizing major events, periods, and cultural movements. For example, referring to the "20th century" to describe the years 1901-2000.
Scientific Research
Climate studies, geological research, and evolutionary biology. For example, analyzing climate patterns over the past 20 centuries (2,000 years).
Archaeology
Dating ancient civilizations and artifacts. For example, determining that a civilization existed 50 centuries (5,000 years) ago.
Genealogy
Tracing family lineages and historical migrations. For example, researching ancestry across 20 centuries of recorded history.
Etymology and History
The word "century" derives from the Latin "centum," meaning one hundred. The concept of grouping years into centuries became prominent with the adoption of the Anno Domini (AD) calendar system in the 6th century. The first century AD began with year 1 and ended with year 100.
Interestingly, the calendar system does not include a year zero, so the first century includes years 1-100, the second century years 101-200, and so on. This means that the 20th century comprised the years 1901-2000, not 1900-1999 as some might expect. This convention is important for historical accuracy when using our century converter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a century 100 years?
The term "century" comes from the Latin "centum," meaning one hundred. This grouping became standard with the adoption of the Anno Domini calendar system, which has been used to organize historical periods for over a millennium. The concept provides a convenient way to reference long time spans in human history and scientific contexts.
How do I convert centuries to other units?
Use our century conversion calculators above, or multiply by the appropriate conversion factor. For example, to convert centuries to years, multiply by 100; to convert centuries to days, multiply by 36,525 (using the average Gregorian year). For detailed instructions on converting centuries to years, visit our century to year converter.
Which century are we in now?
We are currently in the 21st century, which began on January 1, 2001, and will end on December 31, 2100. Many people mistakenly believe the 21st century began in 2000, but because there was no year zero in the AD system, the first century was years 1-100, making the 21st century begin in 2001.
What's the difference between a century and a millennium?
A century is a period of 100 years, while a millennium is a period of 1,000 years (10 centuries). Both terms are used for historical dating, but millennia represent even longer time spans. For example, the current millennium (3rd millennium) spans from 2001 to 3000.
Are there different types of years in century calculations?
Yes, our century converter accounts for different types of years: Gregorian (365.2425 days average), Julian (365.25 days), sidereal (Earth's orbital period relative to stars), and tropical (seasonal year). These variations affect precise calculations, especially over multiple centuries, which is why our tool offers conversions to all these year types.
How accurate are century conversions?
Our century converter uses internationally recognized conversion factors and astronomical data for maximum accuracy. Since some conversions involve averages (like the 365.25-day year), results may vary slightly from exact calendar calculations, but our tool provides precision suitable for scientific, historical, and educational applications.
Can I convert fractional centuries?
Yes, our century converter handles fractional values with high precision. For example, you can convert 2.5 centuries to 250 years, or 0.1 centuries to 10 years. This is useful for scientific calculations or historical approximations where exact century boundaries aren't required.
Is your century conversion tool free to use?
Yes, our century conversion calculator is completely free with no registration required. Simply enter your value, select your target unit, and get instant, accurate results. We believe precise time conversion should be accessible to everyone, from students learning historical timelines to researchers analyzing long-term data sets.