Milliwatt is 0.001 watt units.
Milliwatts to Picowatts Converter — mW to pW
Convert Milliwatt (mW) to Picowatt (pW) using the exact conversion factor (1 milliwatt = 1,000,000,000 picowatt). See the formula, worked examples, and conversion table.
Milliwatts to Picowatts converter
Converter
Electricity Converter
Convert electrical units by family and calculate voltage, current, resistance, power, and energy with context values.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
Picowatt is 1e-12 watt units.
Result = input x 0.001 / 1e-12.
Electrical units in the same family convert directly.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Milliwatts to Picowatts
Milliwatt and Picowatt both belong to the electricity family — voltage, current, resistance, power, or energy — units that show up constantly when working across the different standards used by household wiring (120V/240V depending on region), automotive electrical systems (12V/24V), and electronics design. Specifically: Milliwatt is 0.001 watt units, and picowatt is 1e-12 watt units.
Formula
picowatts = milliwatts × 1000000000
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 milliwatt equals 0.001 base units, and 1 picowatt equals 1e-12 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct milliwatt-to-picowatt factor of 1000000000.
Simple example
1 mW × 1000000000 = 1,000,000,000 pW
1 milliwatt = 1,000,000,000 picowatts.
Real-world example
120 mW × 1000000000 = 120,000,000,000 pW
120 milliwatts = 120,000,000,000 picowatts.
Conversion table
| Milliwatt (mW) | Picowatt (pW) |
|---|---|
| 1 mW | 1,000,000,000 pW |
| 5 mW | 5,000,000,000 pW |
| 12 mW | 12,000,000,000 pW |
| 24 mW | 24,000,000,000 pW |
| 120 mW | 120,000,000,000 pW |
| 240 mW | 240,000,000,000 pW |
Reverse conversion: Picowatt to Milliwatt
1 pW × 1e-9 = 1e-9 mW
1 picowatt = 1e-9 milliwatts.
milliwatts = picowatts × 1e-9
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Picowatt to Milliwatt.
Understanding the Milliwatt (mW)
Milliwatt is 0.001 watt units.
Understanding the Picowatt (pW)
Picowatt is 1e-12 watt units.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many picowatts are in 1 milliwatt?
1 milliwatt equals 1,000,000,000 picowatts, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert milliwatt to picowatt?
Multiply the milliwatt value by 1000000000. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert picowatt back to milliwatt?
Use the reverse factor: 1 picowatt equals 1e-9 milliwatts. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a milliwatt?
Milliwatt (mW) is a unit of electricity.
What is a picowatt?
Picowatt (pW) is a unit of electricity.
Is the milliwatt to picowatt conversion exact?
Yes. Both milliwatt and picowatt are defined by fixed standards rather than physical artifacts, so the factor of 1000000000 used above is exact to as many digits as you choose to display.
What's the difference between voltage, current, and resistance?
Voltage (volts) is the electrical potential difference driving current through a circuit. Current (amperes) is the rate of flow of electric charge. Resistance (ohms) is how much a component opposes that flow. They're related by Ohm's law (V = I × R), but they are distinct physical quantities, and this page converts between units of just one of them.