Megawatts to Kilowatts Converter
Convert megawatts to kilowatts — multiply by a thousand. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One megawatt is 1,000 kilowatts — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the megawatts to kilowatts 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001 MW | 1 kW | megawatts to kilowatts |
| 0.01 MW | 10 kW | megawatts to kilowatts |
| 0.1 MW | 100 kW | megawatts to kilowatts |
| 1 MW | 1,000 kW | megawatt to kilowatts |
| 2 MW | 2,000 kW | megawatts to kilowatts |
| 5 MW | 5,000 kW | megawatts to kilowatts |
| 10 MW | 10,000 kW | megawatts to kilowatts |
| 50 MW | 50,000 kW | megawatts to kilowatts |
| 100 MW | 100,000 kW | megawatts to kilowatts |
| 500 MW | 500,000 kW | megawatts to kilowatts |
| 1,000 MW | 1,000,000 kW | megawatts to kilowatts |
| 2,000 MW | 2,000,000 kW | megawatts to kilowatts |
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?
Exactly 1,000.
What is 1 MW?
Enough to supply roughly 400 to 900 homes on average, depending on the country.
How big is a wind turbine?
Modern onshore turbines are 3 to 6 MW; offshore ones reach 15 MW.
What is a gigawatt?
A thousand megawatts. A large power station is 1 to 3 GW.
What is 100 MW in kW?
100,000 kW.
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.