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
Power Converter
Convert watts, horsepower, refrigeration tons, BTU per hour, and engineering power units.
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 uses the watt as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Megawatts to Petawatts
Megawatt and Petawatt both describe power output, and the conversion is a routine part of comparing an engine or motor's spec sheet across countries that use different power units. 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 |
| 100 MW | 1e-7 PW |
| 500 MW | 5e-7 PW |
| 1,000 MW | 0.000001 PW |
| 5,000 MW | 0.000005 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 power.
What is a petawatt?
Petawatt (PW) is a unit of power.
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.