Interval in Cents
Measure the musical interval between two frequencies in cents.
About Interval in Cents
Cents express the size of any interval on a logarithmic scale where twelve semitones equal one octave. Precise tuning and microtonal work use cents because they measure pure ratios cleanly rather than linear frequency differences.
Formula
Interval in Cents
Cents = 1200 x log2(high / low)
- cents
- A hundredth of a semitone, with 1200 per octave
Worked example
With the default values below, Interval in Cents returns Interval of 299.2. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Lower frequencyminimum 1 Hz
- 440 Hz
- Higher frequencyminimum 1 Hz
- 523 Hz
Results
- Interval
- 299.2 cents
- Interval
- 2.99 st
- Frequency Ratio
- 1.1886
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Interval in Cents
- 3Interval= 299.2 cents
- 4Interval= 2.99 st
- 5Frequency Ratio= 1.1886
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or fees or charges into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Interval in Cents calculated?
Cents = 1200 x log2(high / low) Cents express the size of any interval on a logarithmic scale where twelve semitones equal one octave.
Why does Interval in Cents matter?
Precise tuning and microtonal work use cents because they measure pure ratios cleanly rather than linear frequency differences.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 2 inputs: Lower frequency, Higher frequency. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.