The fixed relationship
1 bitcoin (BTC) = 100,000,000 satoshis. One satoshi is therefore 0.00000001 BTC. To convert BTC to sats, multiply by 100,000,000. To convert sats to BTC, divide by 100,000,000. This is a unit conversion, like changing dollars to cents, although the scale is much larger.
Why use smaller units?
Bitcoin can be divided into very small amounts. Writing 0.00025000 BTC is valid, but “25,000 sats” may be easier to read in a conversation about a small balance or payment. Satoshis also appear in some Bitcoin fee discussions. A fee rate such as “sats per virtual byte” describes a rate for transaction size; it is different from simply stating a balance in sats.
Conversion examples
| Bitcoin | Satoshis | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 BTC | 100,000,000 sats | 1 × 100,000,000 |
| 0.001 BTC | 100,000 sats | 0.001 × 100,000,000 |
| 0.00000001 BTC | 1 sat | 0.00000001 × 100,000,000 |
| 0.0025 BTC | 250,000 sats | 250,000 ÷ 100,000,000 |
What price changes—and what it does not
The BTC-to-sat ratio never changes with the market price. If a hypothetical BTC price were $50,000, 0.001 BTC (100,000 sats) would be worth about $50 before fees. If BTC's market price changed, that dollar estimate would change; the balance would still be 0.001 BTC or 100,000 sats. Price and denomination answer different questions.
Common notation
You may see “sat” for one satoshi and “sats” for more than one. Wallets and exchanges may display different decimal places, and a rounded display can hide tiny amounts. When moving value, check the exact unit shown rather than assuming a number is BTC. This guide is about units, not a suggestion to buy or use Bitcoin.
For Bitcoin's own terminology, see the Bitcoin developer glossary.
Key takeaway
Sats and BTC are two labels for the same Bitcoin amount. Multiply BTC by 100 million to get sats; divide sats by 100 million to get BTC.