Petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units.
Petawatts to Gigawatts Converter — PW to GW
Convert Petawatt (PW) to Gigawatt (GW) using the exact conversion factor (1 petawatt = 1,000,000 gigawatt). See the formula, worked examples, and conversion table.
Petawatts to Gigawatts 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.
Gigawatt is 1000000000 watt units.
Result = input x 1e+15 / 1e+9.
Power units are compatible.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Petawatts to Gigawatts
Petawatt and Gigawatt 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: Petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units, and gigawatt is 1000000000 watt units.
Formula
gigawatts = petawatts × 1000000
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 petawatt equals 1e+15 base units, and 1 gigawatt equals 1000000000 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct petawatt-to-gigawatt factor of 1000000.
Simple example
1 PW × 1000000 = 1,000,000 GW
1 petawatt = 1,000,000 gigawatts.
Real-world example
100 PW × 1000000 = 100,000,000 GW
100 petawatts = 100,000,000 gigawatts.
Conversion table
| Petawatt (PW) | Gigawatt (GW) |
|---|---|
| 1 PW | 1,000,000 GW |
| 10 PW | 10,000,000 GW |
| 50 PW | 50,000,000 GW |
| 100 PW | 100,000,000 GW |
| 500 PW | 500,000,000 GW |
| 1,000 PW | 1,000,000,000 GW |
Reverse conversion: Gigawatt to Petawatt
1 GW × 0.000001 = 0.000001 PW
1 gigawatt = 0.000001 petawatts.
petawatts = gigawatts × 0.000001
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Gigawatt to Petawatt.
Understanding the Petawatt (PW)
Petawatt is 1000000000000000 watt units.
Understanding the Gigawatt (GW)
Gigawatt is 1000000000 watt units.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many gigawatts are in 1 petawatt?
1 petawatt equals 1,000,000 gigawatts, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert petawatt to gigawatt?
Multiply the petawatt value by 1000000. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert gigawatt back to petawatt?
Use the reverse factor: 1 gigawatt equals 0.000001 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 engineering.
What is a gigawatt?
Gigawatt (GW) is a unit of engineering.
Is the petawatt to gigawatt conversion exact?
Yes. Both petawatt and gigawatt are defined by fixed standards rather than physical artifacts, so the factor of 1000000 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.