Petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units.
Petawatts to Megawatts Converter — PW to MW
Convert Petawatt (PW) to Megawatt (MW) using the exact conversion factor (1 petawatt = 1,000,000,000 megawatt). See the formula, worked examples, and conversion table.
Petawatts to Megawatts 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.
Megawatt is 1000000 watt units.
Result = input x 1e+15 / 1e+6.
Electrical units in the same family convert directly.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Petawatts to Megawatts
Petawatt and Megawatt 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: Petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units, and megawatt is 1000000 watt units.
Formula
megawatts = petawatts × 1000000000
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 petawatt equals 1e+15 base units, and 1 megawatt equals 1000000 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct petawatt-to-megawatt factor of 1000000000.
Simple example
1 PW × 1000000000 = 1,000,000,000 MW
1 petawatt = 1,000,000,000 megawatts.
Real-world example
120 PW × 1000000000 = 120,000,000,000 MW
120 petawatts = 120,000,000,000 megawatts.
Conversion table
| Petawatt (PW) | Megawatt (MW) |
|---|---|
| 1 PW | 1,000,000,000 MW |
| 5 PW | 5,000,000,000 MW |
| 12 PW | 12,000,000,000 MW |
| 24 PW | 24,000,000,000 MW |
| 120 PW | 120,000,000,000 MW |
| 240 PW | 240,000,000,000 MW |
Reverse conversion: Megawatt to Petawatt
1 MW × 1e-9 = 1e-9 PW
1 megawatt = 1e-9 petawatts.
petawatts = megawatts × 1e-9
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Megawatt to Petawatt.
Understanding the Petawatt (PW)
Petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units.
Understanding the Megawatt (MW)
Megawatt is 1000000 watt units.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many megawatts are in 1 petawatt?
1 petawatt equals 1,000,000,000 megawatts, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert petawatt to megawatt?
Multiply the petawatt value by 1000000000. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert megawatt back to petawatt?
Use the reverse factor: 1 megawatt equals 1e-9 petawatts. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a petawatt?
Petawatt (PW) is a unit of electricity.
What is a megawatt?
Megawatt (MW) is a unit of electricity.
Is the petawatt to megawatt conversion exact?
Yes. Both petawatt and megawatt 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.