Megawatt is 1000000 watt units.
Megawatts to Petawatts Converter — MW to PW
Convert Megawatt (MW) to Petawatt (PW) using the exact conversion factor (1 megawatt = 1e-9 petawatt). See the formula, worked examples, and conversion table.
Megawatts to Petawatts converter
Converter
Engineering Converter
Convert common stress, force, torque, power, and energy units used in engineering.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
Petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units.
Result = input x 1e+6 / 1e+15.
Power units are compatible.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Megawatts to Petawatts
Megawatt and Petawatt both measure a quantity used in structural or mechanical engineering — commonly stress, pressure, force, torque, power, or energy — where converting between the unit conventions used in different regions, industries, or equipment specifications is a routine part of design work. Specifically: Megawatt is 1000000 watt units, and petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units.
Formula
petawatts = megawatts × 1e-9
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 megawatt equals 1000000 base units, and 1 petawatt equals 1e+15 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct megawatt-to-petawatt factor of 1e-9.
Simple example
1 MW × 1e-9 = 1e-9 PW
1 megawatt = 1e-9 petawatts.
Real-world example
100 MW × 1e-9 = 1e-7 PW
100 megawatts = 1e-7 petawatts.
Conversion table
| Megawatt (MW) | Petawatt (PW) |
|---|---|
| 1 MW | 1e-9 PW |
| 10 MW | 1e-8 PW |
| 50 MW | 5e-8 PW |
| 100 MW | 1e-7 PW |
| 500 MW | 5e-7 PW |
| 1,000 MW | 0.000001 PW |
Reverse conversion: Petawatt to Megawatt
1e-9 PW × 1000000000 = 1 MW
1e-9 petawatts = 1 megawatts.
megawatts = petawatts × 1000000000
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Petawatt to Megawatt.
Understanding the Megawatt (MW)
Megawatt is 1000000 watt units.
Understanding the Petawatt (PW)
Petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many petawatts are in 1 megawatt?
1 megawatt equals 1e-9 petawatts, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert megawatt to petawatt?
Multiply the megawatt value by 1e-9. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert petawatt back to megawatt?
Use the reverse factor: 1 petawatt equals 1,000,000,000 megawatts. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a megawatt?
Megawatt (MW) is a unit of engineering.
What is a petawatt?
Petawatt (PW) is a unit of engineering.
Is the megawatt to petawatt conversion exact?
Yes. Both megawatt and petawatt are defined by fixed standards rather than physical artifacts, so the factor of 1e-9 used above is exact to as many digits as you choose to display.
Why do engineering unit conventions vary so much by region and industry?
Pressure, force, and stress can be expressed in metric (pascal, newton), US customary (psi, pound-force), or older and industry-specific units (atmosphere, torr, kip) depending on the country, industry, and even the equipment manufacturer, which is why engineers routinely need to convert between them when working across specs from different sources.