Baud Rate Calculator

What Is Baud Rate?

Baud rate is the number of signal symbols sent each second. Bit rate is the number of bits those symbols carry. They match only when each symbol encodes one bit. UART links often quote 9,600 baud; both ends must use the same rate.

Baud Rate Formulas

From bit rate:

$$\text{Baud} = \frac{\text{bit rate}}{\text{bits per baud}}$$

From amplitude-shift keying bandwidth $B_{\text{ASK}}$ and modulation factor $mf$:

$$\text{Baud} = \frac{B_{\text{ASK}}}{1 + mf}$$

From frequency-shift keying bandwidth $B_{\text{FSK}}$ and frequency deviation $\Delta F$:

$$\text{Baud} = \frac{B_{\text{FSK}} - 2\Delta F}{1 + mf}$$

Symbol rate also equals frequency when 1 baud = 1 Hz.

Example: 4,500 bits/s with 9 bits per symbol is 500 baud. ASCII with 8 bits per character at 80 bps is 10 baud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is baud the same as bits per second?

Only if each symbol carries one bit. With 8 or 9 bits per UART frame, bit rate is several times the baud rate.

What baud rate should I use?

9,600 is a common default for debug consoles. 115,200 is typical for faster serial logs. Sender and receiver must match exactly.

Why does ASK use 1 + mf?

ASK bandwidth is often written as B = baud × (1 + mf). Solving for baud divides measured bandwidth by that factor.

What is ΔF in the FSK formula?

It is the frequency difference (deviation) between mark and space tones. Subtract twice that offset from FSK bandwidth before dividing by 1 + mf.

Can I convert baud to hertz?

Yes. By definition 1 baud = 1 symbol per second = 1 Hz for this conversion mode.

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What Is Baud Rate?

Baud Rate Formulas

Frequently Asked Questions

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