Power converter
Convert mW to µW — milliwatt to microwatt
Convert milliwatts (mW) to microwatts (µW) instantly. 1 mW = 1,000 µW. Free calculator with formula, conversion table, and W base-unit equivalent.
Also searched as: mW to uW, milli watt to micro watt, milli to micro watt, milli watts to micro watts.
- Scientific Notation
- 1.2 × 10⁴ µW
- Real-World Context
- 1 mW is roughly the power of a standard laser pointer
- Step-by-Step
- 1. Start with 12 mW. 2. Since 1 milli-unit = 1,000 micro-units, multiply by 1,000. 3. 12 × 1,000 = 12,000 µW.
- Formula Used
- × 1,000 (milli = 10⁻³, micro = 10⁻⁶)
Quick Conversions
| Mega | 1.2 × 10⁻⁸ MW |
|---|---|
| Kilo | 0.000012 kW |
| Base Unit (watts) | 0.012 watts |
| Nano | 12,000,000 nW |
| Pico | 1.2 × 10¹⁰ pW |
Quick mW to µW answer
1 mW = 1,000 µW
multiply by 1,000
12 mW = 12,000 µW
milliwatt to microwatt formula
Milli is 10^-3 and micro is 10^-6. They are three powers of ten apart, so every mW to µW conversion uses the exact factor 1,000.
µW = mW × 1,000
12 mW × 1,000 = 12,000 µWmW to µW table
Common values for milliwatts converted to microwattsand the base unit (W).
| milliwatts | microwatts | watts |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001 mW | 1 µW | 0.000001 W |
| 0.01 mW | 10 µW | 0.00001 W |
| 0.1 mW | 100 µW | 0.0001 W |
| 1 mW | 1,000 µW | 0.001 W |
| 2 mW | 2,000 µW | 0.002 W |
| 5 mW | 5,000 µW | 0.005 W |
| 10 mW | 10,000 µW | 0.01 W |
| 20 mW | 20,000 µW | 0.02 W |
| 50 mW | 50,000 µW | 0.05 W |
| 100 mW | 100,000 µW | 0.1 W |
| 1,000 mW | 1,000,000 µW | 1 W |
Understanding milliwatts and microwatts
A milliwatt (mW) is 10⁻³ of the base unit (watt) and a microwatt (µW) is 10⁻⁶. They sit three powers of ten apart, so going from mW to µW means multiplying by exactly 1,000 — move the decimal point three places to the right.
Milliwatts size small radios, indicator LEDs and thermal budgets. RF work quotes dBm against a 1 mW reference, so 0 dBm is 1 mW and 30 dBm is 1 W — the milliwatt is baked into the notation itself.
This calculator shifts the decimal exponent rather than multiplying in binary floating point, so 12 mW returns exactly 12,000 µW — not a value with a trailing rounding error.
Common mW to µW mistake
dBm is logarithmic, so it never converts by a factor of 1000. Going from 1 mW to 1 µW is a drop of 30 dB, not a shifted decimal point, and averaging dBm values directly is meaningless.
When to use mW vs µW
milliwatts and microwatts are used for RF power, low-energy sensors, optical receivers, wearables, and standby loads. Use the larger milli unit when the number becomes easier to scan, and the smaller micro unit when you need finer detail.