In 1 kilowatts there are 0.001 megawatts. Meanwhile in 1 megawatts there are 1,000 kilowatts. Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure and how they are calculated. Or just use the Megawatts to Kilowatts calculator above to convert any number.
* Values rounded to 6 decimal places for readability
To convert kilowatts (kW) to megawatts (MW), divide the kilowatt value by 1,000. This works because 1 MW = 1,000 kW.
Formula:
MW = kW ÷ 1,000
Example:
Quick tip: moving from kW to MW shifts the decimal three places left.
There are 0.001 megawatts (MW) in 1 kilowatt (kW). Megawatts are larger units, so the number gets smaller when you convert from kW to MW.
Use this simple formula:
MW = kW ÷ 1,000
Divide the kilowatt value by 1,000 to get megawatts.
The standard conversion is:
MW = kW × 0.001
This works because 1 MW = 1,000 kW.
1,000 kW = 1 MW. This is the most common reference point for the kW to MW conversion.
500 kW = 0.5 MW. Divide 500 by 1,000 to convert it.
2,500 kW = 2.5 MW. This is a typical size for small power plants or large generators.
Yes. A megawatt is 1,000 times bigger than a kilowatt. That’s why kW converts to a smaller MW number.
Kilowatts are a smaller unit. When you switch to a larger unit like megawatts, you need fewer units to represent the same power. The power stays the same, only the unit changes.
Yes. kW and MW both measure power, or the rate energy is used or produced. The unit depends on the size of the system. Homes often use kW, while power plants often use MW.
kW and MW measure power.
kWh measures energy used over time.
You can convert kW to MW, but you can’t convert kWh to MW without a time value. For example, if a system runs at 1,000 kW for 1 hour, it uses 1,000 kWh (which is 1 MWh).
Move the decimal three places to the left.
A common mistake is multiplying by 1,000 instead of dividing. When converting kW to MW, always divide by 1,000 (or multiply by 0.001).
No. The kW to MW conversion is always the same. Voltage and phase matter when you calculate kW from amps and volts, but once you have kW, converting to MW is only a unit change.
The exact relationship is:
This is an exact base-10 conversion, not an estimate.
The Calculate Box tool to convert kilowatts to megawatts uses the open source script Convert.js to convert units of measurement. To use this tool, simply type a kilowatts value in the box and have it instantly converted to megawatts.