How to Convert Milliwatts to Microwatts
To convert a power measurement from milliwatts to microwatts, multiply the power value by the conversion factor. Since one milliwatt is equal to 1,000 microwatts, you can use this formula:
The power in microwatts is equal to the milliwatts multiplied by 1,000.
Using the formula: microwatts = milliwatts × 1,000
microwatts = 5 mW × 1,000 = 5,000 µW
Therefore, 5 milliwatts equals 5,000 microwatts.
How Many Microwatts Are in a Milliwatt?
There are 1,000 microwatts in one milliwatt.
What Is a Milliwatt?
The milliwatt (symbol: mW) is a unit of power equal to one thousandth (10−3) of a watt. The prefix “milli” denotes a factor of 10−3 in the International System of Units. Milliwatts are widely used in electronics, laser technology, and telecommunications. The power output of laser pointers, the transmit power of Bluetooth and Zigbee devices, and the power consumption of wearable electronics are commonly expressed in milliwatts. In laser safety classification, Class 1 lasers are limited to about 0.39 mW (visible), Class 2 lasers are limited to 1 mW, and Class 3R lasers can output up to 5 mW. These classifications determine the safety requirements for laser products. In wireless communications, transmit power is often expressed in milliwatts or dBm. Bluetooth Class 2 devices transmit at up to 2.5 mW, while Class 1 devices can transmit up to 100 mW. The reference point for the dBm scale is exactly 1 mW (0 dBm). The power output of small solar cells, thermoelectric generators, and energy harvesting devices is typically measured in milliwatts, making this unit important in the growing field of Internet of Things (IoT) technology.
One milliwatt is equal to:
- 0.001 watts (W)
- 1,000 microwatts (μW)
- 10−6 kilowatts (kW)
- 1.34102 × 10−6 horsepower (hp)
- 0.00341214 Btu per hour (Btu/h)
- 8.60421 × 10−4 kilocalories per hour (kcal/h)
What Is a Microwatt?
The microwatt (symbol: μW) is a unit of power equal to one millionth (10−6) of a watt. The prefix “micro” denotes a factor of 10−6 in the International System of Units. Microwatts are used in electronics, telecommunications, and sensor technology to measure very small power levels. Radio frequency (RF) signal strengths, the power output of photodetectors, and the energy harvesting capacity of micro-generators are commonly expressed in microwatts. In wireless communications, received signal power is often measured in microwatts or expressed in dBm (decibels relative to one milliwatt). A typical Wi-Fi signal received at moderate distance might be 0.001–1 μW (−30 to 0 dBm). In biomedical engineering, the power consumption of implantable devices (such as pacemakers and cochlear implants) and the electrical signals from the human body (EEG, ECG) are in the microwatt range. Modern ultra-low-power microcontrollers can operate at power levels below 1 μW in sleep mode.
One microwatt is equal to:
- 10−6 watts (W)
- 0.001 milliwatts (mW)
- 10−9 kilowatts (kW)
- 1.34102 × 10−9 horsepower (hp)
- 3.41214 × 10−6 Btu per hour (Btu/h)
- 8.60421 × 10−7 kilocalories per hour (kcal/h)
Understanding Power Units
Power is the rate at which energy is transferred, converted, or used per unit of time. In physics, power equals work done divided by the time taken (P = W/t), or equivalently, force times velocity (P = Fv). Power is a scalar quantity measured in watts in the SI system.
Different power units reflect the diverse fields in which power is measured. The watt (and its multiples) dominate science and electrical engineering, while horsepower remains entrenched in the automotive and mechanical industries. Btu per hour is the standard in the American HVAC industry, and kilocalories per hour bridges the gap between physics and nutrition science.
Major Power Unit Families
- SI / Metric units: The watt (W) is the SI unit of power, with standard metric prefixes (μW, mW, kW, MW). One watt equals one joule per second (1 W = 1 J/s = 1 kg·m²/s³).
- Mechanical horsepower: Defined as 550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 745.7 W. Used primarily for rating engines and motors, especially in the US automotive industry.
- British thermal units per hour: Based on the BTU, a traditional unit of heat energy. 1 Btu/h ≈ 0.2931 W. Standard in the US HVAC industry for heating and cooling equipment ratings.
- Kilocalories per hour: Based on the thermochemical kilocalorie. 1 kcal/h ≈ 1.162 W. Used in nutrition, exercise science, and some HVAC applications outside the US.
Power in Everyday Life
- Lighting: LED bulbs use 5–15 W, CFL bulbs 13–25 W, and incandescent bulbs 40–100 W for comparable brightness.
- Computing: A smartphone charger delivers 5–25 W, a laptop uses 30–100 W, and a desktop gaming PC can draw 300–800 W.
- Transportation: A typical car engine produces 100–300 hp (75–225 kW), while a locomotive produces 3,000–6,000 hp (2.2–4.5 MW).
- Human body: At rest, the human body generates about 80–100 W of heat. During vigorous exercise, this can rise to 1,000–2,000 W.
Converting Between Power Units
All power units measure the same physical quantity — the rate of energy transfer — so converting between them is a matter of multiplying by the appropriate conversion factor. The factor is the ratio of how many watts one unit of the source contains divided by how many watts one unit of the target contains.
Key conversion constants: 1 hp = 745.7 W, 1 Btu/h ≈ 0.2931 W, 1 kcal/h ≈ 1.162 W. For SI prefixes, each step is a factor of 1,000 (1 kW = 1,000 W, 1 MW = 1,000 kW).
Tips for Power Conversions
- For SI metric conversions (μW, mW, W, kW, MW), each prefix step is a factor of 1,000. So 1 MW = 1,000 kW = 1,000,000 W.
- To convert horsepower to kilowatts, multiply by 0.7457. To go the other way, divide by 0.7457 (or multiply by 1.341).
- Quick mental estimate: 1 hp ≈ ¾ kW, or 4 hp ≈ 3 kW. This is handy for quick comparisons.
- In HVAC, 1 ton of refrigeration = 12,000 Btu/h ≈ 3.517 kW. A “3-ton” air conditioner = 36,000 Btu/h ≈ 10.55 kW.
- For Btu/h to watts: divide by 3.412. For watts to Btu/h: multiply by 3.412.
- The “Calories” on food labels are actually kilocalories (kcal). A food with 100 Calories provides 100 kcal of energy.
- Don’t confuse power (watts) with energy (watt-hours). A 100 W light bulb running for 10 hours uses 1,000 Wh = 1 kWh of energy.
- When comparing engine power ratings, ensure you’re using the same type of horsepower. Mechanical hp (≈ 745.7 W) is slightly different from metric hp (≈ 735.5 W).
Milliwatts to Microwatts Conversion Table
The following table shows conversions from milliwatts to microwatts.
| Milliwatts | Microwatts (µW) |
|---|---|
| 1 mW | 1,000 |
| 2 mW | 2,000 |
| 3 mW | 3,000 |
| 4 mW | 4,000 |
| 5 mW | 5,000 |
| 6 mW | 6,000 |
| 7 mW | 7,000 |
| 8 mW | 8,000 |
| 9 mW | 9,000 |
| 10 mW | 10,000 |
| 11 mW | 11,000 |
| 12 mW | 12,000 |
| 13 mW | 13,000 |
| 14 mW | 14,000 |
| 15 mW | 15,000 |
| 16 mW | 16,000 |
| 17 mW | 17,000 |
| 18 mW | 18,000 |
| 19 mW | 19,000 |
| 20 mW | 20,000 |
| 21 mW | 21,000 |
| 22 mW | 22,000 |
| 23 mW | 23,000 |
| 24 mW | 24,000 |
| 25 mW | 25,000 |
| 26 mW | 26,000 |
| 27 mW | 27,000 |
| 28 mW | 28,000 |
| 29 mW | 29,000 |
| 30 mW | 30,000 |
| 31 mW | 31,000 |
| 32 mW | 32,000 |
| 33 mW | 33,000 |
| 34 mW | 34,000 |
| 35 mW | 35,000 |
| 36 mW | 36,000 |
| 37 mW | 37,000 |
| 38 mW | 38,000 |
| 39 mW | 39,000 |
| 40 mW | 40,000 |