Convert Milliwatts to Watts
Convert Milliwatts (mW) to Watts (W) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
W = mW × 0.001
About Milliwatts
A milliwatt (mW) is 10⁻³ W - the power scale of consumer wireless communications. Wi-Fi access points transmit at 100 mW (20 dBm); mobile phones peak at up to 1,000 mW. A laser pointer emits 1-5 mW; an LED indicator 10 mW; Bluetooth Classic peaks at 100 mW. Standby power implications: 1 mW × 10⁹ devices × 1 year = 8,760 MWh - enough to power a small town, underscoring why milliwatt standby matters at scale. 1 mW = 10⁻³ W.
About Watts
The watt (W) is the SI unit of power - 1 J/s - named after James Watt (1736-1819). Familiar power levels: smartphone charging 5-65 W; laptop 15-100 W; microwave 700-1,200 W; electric kettle 2,000-3,000 W; human resting metabolism ~80 W; peak sprint ~2,000 W. The now-obsolete 100 W incandescent bulb is replaced by a 10-15 W LED producing the same light. In AC circuits, reactive power uses the var and apparent power the VA, both derived from watts. 1 W = 1 J/s = 1 kg·m²/s³.
Quick Reference Table
| Milliwatts (mW) | Watts (W) |
|---|---|
| 1 mW | 0.001 W |
| 2 mW | 0.002 W |
| 5 mW | 0.005 W |
| 10 mW | 0.01 W |
| 25 mW | 0.025 W |
| 50 mW | 0.05 W |
| 100 mW | 0.1 W |