Convert Watts to Kilowatts
Watts to kilowatts is the conversion you reach for when a power figure gets big — appliances, heaters, or a whole home's draw — and watts turn into a long string of digits. One watt is exactly 0.001 kilowatts, so the number gets a lot smaller when you switch from watts to kilowatts.
Watts to Kilowatts conversion table
| Watts (W) | Kilowatts (kW) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.001 |
| 2 | 0.002 |
| 3 | 0.003 |
| 5 | 0.005 |
| 10 | 0.01 |
| 20 | 0.02 |
| 50 | 0.05 |
| 100 | 0.1 |
| 500 | 0.5 |
| 1,000 | 1 |
The formula
To convert watts to kilowatts, multiply the number of watts by 0.001 (the same as dividing by 1,000):
kilowatts = watts × 0.001
A worked example
Say you have a 1,500-watt space heater and want it in kilowatts:
1500 × 0.001 = 1.5 kW
So 1,500 watts is exactly 1.5 kilowatts.
Why the number is exact
The "kilo" in kilowatt means exactly one thousand — that's the definition, not a measurement. So a kilowatt is exactly 1,000 watts, which makes one watt exactly 1/1,000 of a kilowatt, or 0.001. It's an exact conversion, with nothing lost to rounding.
When you'll use it
Reading the power rating on appliances, heaters, and motors, sizing a circuit or generator, and checking how the watt figures on a spec sheet add up to the kilowatts your electric bill talks about.
Frequently asked questions
How many kilowatts are in a watt?
Exactly 0.001 kilowatts. A kilowatt is just a thousand watts, so one watt is one thousandth of a kilowatt — a fixed, exact number, not a rounded one.
How do I turn watts into kilowatts?
Divide by 1,000, or multiply by 0.001 — they're the same move. A 1,500 W kettle is 1.5 kW.
Is the watts to kilowatts conversion exact?
Yes. 'Kilo' means exactly one thousand, so a watt is exactly 0.001 kilowatts with nothing rounded away.