dBm to Milliwatt Converter
Power · unit-converter
Convert dBm to Milliwatt with a fixed input and output unit, step-by-step formula line, and reference tables. Linear units use SI watt definitions; mechanical hp uses 550 ft·lbf/s; BTU/h uses the IT BTU; dBm/dBW are logarithmic relative to 1 mW and 1 W. The full Power Converter also includes PS/CV, TR, kVA/MVA, and ft·lb/s.
Calculator
From: dBm (dbm)
To: Milliwatt (mw)
About dBm
dBm is a logarithmic power level relative to 1 mW: P(W) = 10^((dBm − 30)/10). It is standard in RF and telecommunications; it is not a linear multiple of the watt.
About Milliwatt
One milliwatt is one thousandth of a watt. Common in RF, fiber optics, and low-power electronics.
How to convert decibels relative to 1 mw (dbm) to milliwatts
dBm/dBW are logarithmic power levels. P_W = 10^((dBm − 30) / 10), P_W = 10^(dBW / 10), and inverse mappings use 10 × log₁₀(·) with P_W > 0.
To reach Milliwatt, convert dBm → W, then divide by the watt factor for mw (0.001 W per 1 mw).
Examples
Example #1: Convert 10 dbm to milliwatt
10 dbm → 10 mw
Example #2: Convert 30 dbm to milliwatt
30 dbm → 1000 mw
Summary
To convert dBm to Milliwatt, first convert dBm to watts: P_W = 10^((dBm − 30)/10). Then divide by the watt factor for mw: value_mw = P_W / 0.001.
Relationship context
You are converting between logarithmic RF levels (dBm) (Decibels relative to 1 mW (dBm)) and SI / decimal power (watts and prefixes) (Milliwatts). Log units (dBm/dBW) use base-10 definitions relative to 1 mW or 1 W; linear units map through watts first, then to or from the selected log unit. Only strictly positive power in watts maps to a real dB power value.
Conversion tables
| dBm (dbm) | Milliwatt (mw) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.0232929923 |
| 1 | 1.2589254118 |
| 2 | 1.5848931925 |
| 3 | 1.995262315 |
| 4 | 2.5118864315 |
| 5 | 3.1622776602 |
| 6 | 3.9810717055 |
| 7 | 5.0118723363 |
| 8 | 6.3095734448 |
| 9 | 7.9432823472 |
| dBm (dbm) | Milliwatt (mw) |
|---|---|
| 10 | 10 |
| 20 | 100 |
| 30 | 1,000 |
| 40 | 10,000 |
| 50 | 100,000 |
| 60 | 1,000,000 |
| 70 | 10,000,000 |
| 80 | 100,000,000 |
| 90 | 1,000,000,000 |
| 100 | 10,000,000,000 |