Convert Picowatts to Milliwatts
Convert Picowatts (pW) to Milliwatts (mW) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
mW = pW × 1.000000000e-9
About Picowatts
A picowatt (pW) is 10⁻¹² W - the power scale of the most sensitive radio receivers. GPS satellites transmit 20-50 W; by the time that signal spans 20,000 km, the received power is ~0.1 pW (−130 dBm). Radio telescopes routinely detect cosmic signals in the picowatt range. Qubit control electronics in quantum computers must resolve energy differences at picowatt scales. Photodetectors in single-photon counting mode, hard drive head read-back signals at idle, and deep-shadow solar cells also operate at picowatt levels. 1 pW = 10⁻¹² W.
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.
Quick Reference Table
| Picowatts (pW) | Milliwatts (mW) |
|---|---|
| 1 pW | 1 × 10-9 mW |
| 2 pW | 2 × 10-9 mW |
| 5 pW | 5 × 10-9 mW |
| 10 pW | 1 × 10-8 mW |
| 25 pW | 2.5 × 10-8 mW |
| 50 pW | 5 × 10-8 mW |
| 100 pW | 1 × 10-7 mW |