This page converts non-negative real power only. It does not convert apparent power in VA, logarithmic dBm, energy in MWh, electricity cost, operating duration, or measurement uncertainty.
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Use the focused MW-to-W conversion or reverse it instantly. One megawatt is exactly one million watts under the SI decimal-prefix system.
1 MW = 1,000,000 W
Use 5 MW.
5 × 1,000,000 = 5,000,000.
5 MW = 5,000,000 W.
| Megawatts (MW) | Watts (W) |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 MW | 1 W |
| 0.00001 MW | 10 W |
| 0.0001 MW | 100 W |
| 0.001 MW | 1,000 W |
| 0.01 MW | 10,000 W |
| 0.1 MW | 100,000 W |
| 1 MW | 1,000,000 W |
| 2 MW | 2,000,000 W |
| 5 MW | 5,000,000 W |
| 10 MW | 10,000,000 W |
| 25 MW | 25,000,000 W |
| 50 MW | 50,000,000 W |
| 100 MW | 100,000,000 W |
System-scale power explainer
Megawatts belong to system-scale power reporting: place the value on the SI watt ladder, aggregate compatible loads, and keep power separate from energy and apparent power.
Step-by-step guide · System-scale power explainer
One megawatt equals 1,000 kilowatts. A 500 kW load is therefore 0.5 MW, not 500 MW.
One megawatt equals 1,000,000 watts. Five megawatts become 5,000,000 W with no approximation in the prefix factor.
One megawatt equals 0.001 gigawatt. A 2,500 MW total may be more legible as 2.5 GW when the receiving document supports that unit.
The BIPM defines the watt as the coherent SI derived unit of power, equal to one joule per second. The prefix mega means 10⁶, so a megawatt is exactly one million watts. This relationship changes only the scale used to report the same power; it does not add a duration, estimate production, or describe how efficiently a machine operates.
That rate interpretation matters whenever MW appears beside MWh. A 5 MW value states an instantaneous or averaged rate under the measurement's stated conditions. Energy requires integrating power over time, and a megawatt-hour therefore cannot be obtained from a megawatt value until a duration and power profile are known. The converter intentionally stops before that new physical question.
The SI prefix ladder makes large power values readable without changing the underlying watts.
One megawatt equals 1,000 kilowatts. A 500 kW load is therefore 0.5 MW, not 500 MW.
One megawatt equals 1,000,000 watts. Five megawatts become 5,000,000 W with no approximation in the prefix factor.
One megawatt equals 0.001 gigawatt. A 2,500 MW total may be more legible as 2.5 GW when the receiving document supports that unit.
Suppose a planning inventory contains 2,500 identical loads rated at 2 kW each under the same defined operating basis. Their arithmetic total is 5,000 kW, which can then be presented as 5 MW. Converting each item to 0.002 MW and rounding that display before summing risks losing detail when ratings are not such convenient numbers.
Only add quantities that represent compatible power conditions. Nameplate maximum, measured average, peak demand, real power, and apparent power are not automatically interchangeable just because they can all appear in an electrical discussion. For values at the opposite end of the scale, the milliwatt calculator offers a device-scale route without a page full of leading zeros.
A prefix conversion cannot supply circuit inputs that were never provided.
Use the volt-amps calculator when current, voltage, phase, VA, watts, or power factor form the actual relationship. VA is not another spelling of W or MW.
Use the voltage drop calculator when conductor material, metal area, run length, current, and circuit type determine the unknown. An MW value alone cannot calculate voltage drop.
Use an explicitly governed energy calculation that accepts time and the required power behavior. Multiplying by an unstated operating period would turn a precise MW conversion into an unsupported energy claim.