Milliwatt is 0.001 watt units.
Milliwatts to Petawatts Converter — mW to PW
Convert Milliwatt (mW) to Petawatt (PW) using the exact conversion factor (1 milliwatt = 1e-18 petawatt). See the formula, worked examples, and conversion table.
Milliwatts 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 0.001 / 1e+15.
Power units are compatible.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Milliwatts to Petawatts
Milliwatt 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: Milliwatt is 0.001 watt units, and petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units.
Formula
petawatts = milliwatts × 1e-18
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 milliwatt equals 0.001 base units, and 1 petawatt equals 1e+15 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct milliwatt-to-petawatt factor of 1e-18.
Simple example
1 mW × 1e-18 = 1e-18 PW
1 milliwatt = 1e-18 petawatts.
Real-world example
100 mW × 1e-18 = 1e-16 PW
100 milliwatts = 1e-16 petawatts.
Conversion table
| Milliwatt (mW) | Petawatt (PW) |
|---|---|
| 1 mW | 1e-18 PW |
| 10 mW | 1e-17 PW |
| 50 mW | 5e-17 PW |
| 100 mW | 1e-16 PW |
| 500 mW | 5e-16 PW |
| 1,000 mW | 1e-15 PW |
Reverse conversion: Petawatt to Milliwatt
1e-18 PW × 1e+18 = 1 mW
1e-18 petawatts = 1 milliwatt.
milliwatts = petawatts × 1e+18
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Petawatt to Milliwatt.
Understanding the Milliwatt (mW)
Milliwatt is 0.001 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 milliwatt?
1 milliwatt equals 1e-18 petawatts, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert milliwatt to petawatt?
Multiply the milliwatt value by 1e-18. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert petawatt back to milliwatt?
Use the reverse factor: 1 petawatt equals 1e+18 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 engineering.
What is a petawatt?
Petawatt (PW) is a unit of engineering.
Is the milliwatt to petawatt conversion exact?
Yes. Both milliwatt and petawatt are defined by fixed standards rather than physical artifacts, so the factor of 1e-18 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.