Kilowatts to Megawatts Converter
Convert kilowatts to megawatts — divide by a thousand. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One kilowatt is 0.001 megawatts — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the kilowatts to megawatts converter works
Power converts through the watt. Mechanical horsepower is 550 ft·lbf/s = 745.6999 W; metric horsepower (PS, used in European car specs) is 735.4988 W. Air-conditioner capacities are quoted in kW, BTU/h (1 W = 3.412 BTU/h) or tons of refrigeration (3.517 kW).
The UK is metric for most trade and science but keeps miles, pints, stone and mpg (with the imperial gallon) in daily life.
Common power conversions
| From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 100 kW | 0.1 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
| 500 kW | 0.5 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
| 1,000 kW | 1 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
| 2,000 kW | 2 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
| 5,000 kW | 5 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
| 10,000 kW | 10 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
| 50,000 kW | 50 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
| 100,000 kW | 100 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
| 500,000 kW | 500 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
| 1,000,000 kW | 1,000 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
| 2,000,000 kW | 2,000 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
| 5,000,000 kW | 5,000 MW | kilowatts to megawatts |
Units in this converter and their exact factors
| Unit | Symbol | One unit in watts |
|---|---|---|
| watt | W | 1 watt |
| kilowatt | kW | 1,000 watt |
| megawatt | MW | 1,000,000 watt |
| horsepower (mechanical) | hp | 745.6998715823 watt |
| metric horsepower (PS) | PS | 735.49875 watt |
| BTU per hour | BTU/h | 0.29307107 watt |
| ton of refrigeration | TR | 3,516.8528421 watt |
FAQFrequently asked questions about power conversion
How many kilowatts in a megawatt?
1,000.
What is 5,000 kW?
5 MW — roughly one large wind turbine.
What is a rooftop solar system?
Typically 5 to 10 kW, which is 0.005 to 0.01 MW.
When do I need megawatts?
For grid-scale generation and industrial loads. Anything domestic is comfortably in kilowatts.
What is 1,000,000 kW?
One gigawatt.
Where these figures come from
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure, 9th edition) — definitions of the base and derived units.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units — the exact conversion factors used here.
- National Physical Laboratory (NPL) — United Kingdom's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.