Convert Watts to Milliwatts
Convert Watts (W) to Milliwatts (mW) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
mW = W × 1000
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.
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
| Watts (W) | Milliwatts (mW) |
|---|---|
| 1 W | 1000 mW |
| 2 W | 2000 mW |
| 5 W | 5000 mW |
| 10 W | 10000 mW |
| 25 W | 25000 mW |
| 50 W | 50000 mW |
| 100 W | 100000 mW |