Megawatts to Milliwatts Converter
Enter the power in megawatts below to convert it to milliwatts.
Convert Megawatts to Milliwatts
Enter a value in megawatts (MW) to convert to milliwatts (mW).
Megawatt to Milliwatt Conversion Table
Table showing various megawatt measurements converted to milliwatts. Click any preset value or arrow to load it into the converter.
How to Convert Megawatts to Milliwatts
To convert megawatts to milliwatts, multiply the power by the following conversion ratio: 1,000,000,000 milliwatts/megawatt.
Since one megawatt is equal to 1,000,000,000 milliwatts, you can use this simple formula to convert:
The power in milliwatts is equal to the power in megawatts multiplied by 1,000,000,000.
For example, here's how to convert 5 megawatts to milliwatts using the formula above.
How Many Milliwatts Are in a Megawatt?
There are 1,000,000,000 milliwatts in a megawatt, which is why we use this value in the formula above.
Our megawatt to milliwatt calculator automatically converts your power measurements with full decimal and scientific precision across US customary, imperial, and SI metric standards.
Megawatts and milliwatts are both units used to measure power. Keep reading to learn more about each unit.
What Is a Megawatt?
A megawatt is a unit of power equal to 1,000,000 watts (W), the base unit for power. Equal to 1,000,000 Watts (1,000 kW). [1]
The megawatt is classified as a metric and SI-compatible unit of power. Megawatts can be abbreviated as MW; for example, 1 megawatt can be written as 1 MW.
In the metric system, "mega" is the standard SI prefix for millions, or 10⁶. This makes the megawatt (MW) a convenient decimal multiple of the watt (W).
In practice, megawatts (MW) are widely used across large-scale industrial, bulk, and macro-level power specifications within SI metric workflows, engineering documentation, and technical data sheets.
What Is a Milliwatt?
A milliwatt is a unit of power equal to 1/1,000 of a watt (0.001 W). One-thousandth of a Watt. [2]
The milliwatt is classified as a metric and SI-compatible unit of power. Milliwatts can be abbreviated as mW; for example, 1 milliwatt can be written as 1 mW.
In the metric system, "milli" is the standard SI prefix for thousandths, or 10⁻³. This makes the milliwatt (mW) a convenient decimal multiple of the watt (W).
In practice, milliwatts (mW) are widely used across fine-tolerance laboratory, analytical, and micro-scale power measurements within SI metric workflows, engineering documentation, and technical data sheets.
When converting power between megawatts (MW) and milliwatts (mW), keep full floating-point precision (1 MW = 1,000,000,000 mW; 1 mW = 1e-9 MW) during intermediate calculations and round only the final milliwatt figure to match your instrument tolerance.
More Megawatt & Milliwatt Conversions
Need to calculate in the opposite direction? Use our milliwatts to megawatts calculator to switch your starting unit immediately. You can also explore related tools such as converting milliwatts to megawatts, converting megawatts to kilowatts, or converting watts to horsepower (hp).
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Frequently Asked Questions
References
- [1]NIST SP 811 StandardNIST SP 811 (NIST SP 811 App. B.9 (Power & Radiant Flux))·Power Metrology Standard — Megawatts (MW) to Milliwatts (mW)
- [2]NIST CUU SpecificationNIST CUU (Derived SI Unit: Watt (W))·Unit Specifications: Megawatt (MW) & Milliwatt (mW)
- [3]BIPM ReferenceBIPM (SI Brochure (9th Ed.) — Power)·Conversion Factors & Mathematical Basis (MW to mW)