5G NR-ARFCN Calculator
Convert between NR-ARFCN and frequency per 3GPP TS 38.104. Covers all FR1 and FR2 bands.
Quick examples
NR-ARFCN Formula (3GPP TS 38.104)
The 5G NR reference frequency is derived from the NR-ARFCN using a global frequency raster. The raster is split into three sub-ranges, each with a different channel step size (ΔFGlobal):
FREF = FREF-Offs + ΔFGlobal × (NREF − NREF-Offs)
| NREF range | ΔFGlobal | FREF-Offs | Frequency range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 599 999 | 5 kHz | 0 GHz | 0 – 3000 MHz |
| 600 000 – 2 016 666 | 15 kHz | 3.0 GHz | 3.0 – 24.25 GHz |
| 2 016 667 – 3 279 165 | 60 kHz | 24.25 GHz | 24.25 – 100 GHz |
To identify the 5G NR band for a given frequency, use the frequency to band converter. To estimate peak throughput for a 5G NR carrier, see the 5G NR spectral efficiency calculator.
5G NR Band NR-ARFCN Quick-Reference
NR-ARFCN ranges for the most widely deployed FR1 and FR2 bands per 3GPP TS 38.104 Table 5.4.2.1-1. Enter any NR-ARFCN from the range below into the calculator to confirm the exact centre frequency.
| Band | DL (MHz) | NR-ARFCN DL range | Δf raster | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n1 | 2110–2170 | 422000–434000 | 5 kHz | FDD |
| n3 | 1805–1880 | 361000–376000 | 5 kHz | FDD |
| n5 | 869–894 | 173800–178800 | 5 kHz | FDD |
| n7 | 2620–2690 | 524000–538000 | 5 kHz | FDD |
| n8 | 925–960 | 185000–192000 | 5 kHz | FDD |
| n20 | 791–821 | 158200–164200 | 5 kHz | FDD |
| n28 | 758–803 | 151600–160600 | 5 kHz | FDD |
| n38 | 2570–2620 | 514000–524000 | 5 kHz | TDD |
| n40 | 2300–2400 | 460000–480000 | 5 kHz | TDD |
| n41 | 2496–2690 | 499200–538000 | 5 kHz | TDD |
| n77 | 3300–4200 | 620000–680000 | 15 kHz | TDD |
| n78 | 3300–3800 | 620000–653333 | 15 kHz | TDD |
| n79 | 4400–5000 | 693334–733333 | 15 kHz | TDD |
| n257 | 26500–29500 | 2054167–2104167 | 60 kHz | TDD (FR2) |
| n258 | 24250–27500 | 2016667–2070834 | 60 kHz | TDD (FR2) |
| n260 | 37000–40000 | 2229167–2279167 | 60 kHz | TDD (FR2) |
Worked Example
Given NR-ARFCN 632628, find the band and centre frequency.
Step 1 — Identify the raster sub-range. 632628 is between 600 000 and 2 016 666, so ΔFGlobal = 15 kHz, FREF-Offs = 3000 MHz, NREF-Offs = 600 000.
Step 2 — Calculate the centre frequency.
F = 3000 + 0.015 × (632628 − 600000) = 3000 + 489.42 = 3489.42 MHz
Step 3 — Identify the band. 3489.42 MHz falls within the n78 DL range (3300–3800 MHz) → Band n78, 3.5 GHz C-band (TDD).
To estimate peak data rate for this n78 carrier, use the spectrum efficiency calculator. To confirm the band from a frequency directly, use the frequency to band converter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an NR-ARFCN?▾
NR-ARFCN (5G NR Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number) is the number that uniquely identifies a radio frequency in the 5G NR system. It is defined in 3GPP TS 38.104 and covers the range from 0 to 3 279 165, corresponding to frequencies from 0 Hz to nearly 100 GHz.
What is the difference between NR-ARFCN and LTE EARFCN?▾
LTE EARFCN is used for 4G LTE networks and is defined in 3GPP TS 36.101. NR-ARFCN is the 5G equivalent defined in 3GPP TS 38.104. NR-ARFCN uses a unified global raster across all frequencies, while EARFCN values are band-specific.
What is FR1 and FR2 in 5G?▾
FR1 (Frequency Range 1) covers sub-6 GHz bands from 410 MHz to 7125 MHz — most deployed 5G today uses FR1. FR2 (Frequency Range 2) covers mmWave bands from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz, offering very high bandwidth but shorter range.
Why does 5G use three different raster step sizes?▾
Different step sizes allow the 3GPP raster to efficiently align with the varied channel bandwidths used across FR1 and FR2. Wider steps (60 kHz) in mmWave are proportionally smaller relative to the carrier frequencies involved, while 5 kHz steps in the low band provide fine resolution.