Convert Megawatts to Watts
Megawatts to watts is the conversion you need when you're working at power-plant or large-motor scale but the math or the spec sheet wants plain watts. One megawatt is exactly 1,000,000 watts, so the number jumps up by a million every time you switch from megawatts to watts.
Megawatts to Watts conversion table
| Megawatts (MW) | Watts (W) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1,000,000 |
| 2 | 2,000,000 |
| 3 | 3,000,000 |
| 5 | 5,000,000 |
| 10 | 10,000,000 |
| 20 | 20,000,000 |
| 50 | 50,000,000 |
| 100 | 100,000,000 |
| 500 | 500,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 1,000,000,000 |
The formula
To convert megawatts to watts, multiply the number of megawatts by 1,000,000:
watts = megawatts × 1,000,000
A worked example
Say you have 1 megawatt and want it in watts:
1 × 1,000,000 = 1,000,000 W
So 1 megawatt is exactly 1,000,000 watts.
Why the number is exact
The prefix "mega" is defined as exactly one million, so a megawatt is exactly 1,000,000 watts. There's no rounding — it's a clean, exact relationship between the two units.
When you'll use it
Reading power-plant and grid figures, sizing large industrial motors, and dropping a megawatt rating into a calculation or spec that's written in plain watts.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts are in a megawatt?
Exactly 1,000,000 watts. The prefix 'mega' means one million, so a megawatt is a million watts — no rounding involved.
Is the megawatts to watts conversion exact?
Yes. A megawatt is exactly 1,000,000 watts by definition, so nothing is rounded away.
How big is a megawatt in real terms?
Megawatts are power-plant and large-motor scale. A single megawatt — a million watts — is roughly the output of a small generating unit or a big industrial motor, which is why it's the unit of choice for grids and heavy machinery.