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 US uses customary units (US gallon, short ton, °F) in daily life; NIST SP 811 gives the exact SI factors.
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 Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — United States's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.