How this calculator works
This page uses the short scale, where each new named unit is one thousand times the previous one. One billion is 1,000 million and one trillion is 1,000 billion, so dividing a billion value by 1,000 gives trillions. The full number readout removes any doubt about which scale is meant.
Formula
trillions = billions / 1,000. billions = trillions x 1,000. 1 billion = 10^9. 1 trillion = 10^12.
Worked example
2,500 billion = 2.5 trillion = 2,500,000,000,000. 7.25 trillion = 7,250 billion. A value of 0.5 trillion is 500 billion.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a trillion a million million?
On the short scale, yes: one trillion is 1,000 billion and one billion is 1,000 million, so a trillion is one million million, or 10^12.
Which countries use the short scale?
Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and most English-speaking countries use the short scale in modern usage. Some other languages retain a long scale in which a billion means 10^12.
Why does the full number matter?
The words billion and trillion have meant different powers of ten in different places and times. Writing the full digits or the power of ten avoids a costly misunderstanding in finance or science.