Convert between thousand (K), million (M), and Indian lakh numbers.
Quick reference table
| Thousand (K) | Million (M) | Lakh |
|---|---|---|
| 1 K | 0.001 M | 0.01 lakh |
| 10 K | 0.01 M | 0.1 lakh |
| 100 K | 0.1 M | 1 lakh |
| 500 K | 0.5 M | 5 lakh |
| 1,000 K | 1 M | 10 lakh |
| 10,000 K | 10 M | 100 lakh (1 crore) |
| 100,000 K | 100 M | 1,000 lakh (10 crore) |
| 1,000,000 K | 1,000 M (= 1 B) | 10,000 lakh (100 crore) |
Notation reference
Where K, M, and B notation come from
The letter K stands for "kilo" — the Greek prefix meaning one thousand — and is borrowed from the metric system (kilogram, kilometer). M comes from "mega" (one million) or from the Latin "mille" used in Roman numerals, depending on context. B stands for billion (10⁹ in the short scale used in the US, UK, and most English-speaking markets). In finance, shorthand like "100K salary" or "5M revenue" keeps headlines compact and is now standard on resumes, news tickers, and financial reports.
Why salaries are quoted in K
Writing "$85K" instead of "$85,000" saves characters in job postings, LinkedIn profiles, and negotiation messages. It also signals rough order of magnitude — "mid-80s K" implies a range around 85,000 without committing to a specific number. Executive pay and seven-figure packages switch to M (e.g. "$1.2M"), and nine-figure totals move to B. The convention is purely cosmetic — the underlying math is the same as multiplying by 1,000 (K), 1,000,000 (M), or 1,000,000,000 (B).
FAQ
How many thousands are in 1 million?
One million equals exactly 1,000 thousand. In notation: 1 M = 1,000 K = 1,000,000. That is why you divide by 1,000 to convert thousands into millions, and multiply by 1,000 to go the other way. A $1,000,000 prize is the same as a "$1,000K" prize or "1 M" in shorthand.
What does "100K salary" mean?
"100K" means 100,000 — so a 100K salary is 100,000 of the given currency per year, which is 0.1 million. In the US this typically refers to USD before taxes (gross annual pay). In the UK, Australia, or Canada the same shorthand applies with the local currency. If someone says "mid-six-figures", they mean roughly 500K to 800K.
Is K always exactly 1,000?
In everyday finance and salary discussions, K = 1,000 exactly. In computing, "kilo" sometimes means 1,024 (2¹⁰) when referring to memory — a "kilobyte" can be 1,000 or 1,024 bytes depending on the standard. For money, revenue, subscribers, and population figures, K always means exactly 1,000.
What is a lakh, and how does it relate to a million?
A lakh is a unit used in the Indian numbering system, equal to 100,000 (one hundred thousand, or 100 K). So 1 million = 10 lakh, and 1 crore (10 million) = 100 lakh. Indian news, salary listings, and real-estate prices routinely use lakh and crore — e.g. "salary 12 LPA" means 12 lakh per annum = 1,200,000 = 1.2 million.
How do I convert K to M mentally?
Move the decimal three places to the left. 250 K becomes 0.25 M. 7,500 K becomes 7.5 M. 1,200 K becomes 1.2 M. Going the other way, move the decimal three places right: 2.4 M is 2,400 K. The calculator above handles any amount and also shows scientific notation and the Indian lakh equivalent.
Convert any number between thousands (K) and millions (M) with one divide-by-1,000 step — the calculator handles both directions and also shows scientific notation, the Indian lakh equivalent, and the billion value. Pick a currency symbol if you want the result formatted as money, adjust decimals, and copy the output in one click. Examples: 1,000 K = 1 M, so a 1,000K contract equals 1 million. A 100 K salary is 0.1 M per year, which is the same as 10 lakh in the Indian system. A 2.5 M seed round is 2,500 K. The quick-reference table below covers the most common round numbers, and the FAQ explains why salaries are quoted in K, what a lakh is, and whether K is always exactly one thousand.