dBm to mW Conversion Calculator

dBm to mW Calculator

Enter power in dBm:

Milliwatts result: mW

A dBm to mW conversion calculator is an essential tool for engineers, technicians, and anyone working with radio frequency (RF) signals, telecommunications, or wireless networking. It converts power measurements between decibel-milliwatts (dBm) and milliwatts (mW), two common units for expressing power levels in electronic systems.

Understanding the Units

What is dBm?

• Definition: dBm (decibel-milliwatt) is a logarithmic unit that expresses power relative to 1 milliwatt (mW)

• Reference point: 0 dBm = 1 mW

• Scale: Logarithmic (not linear)

• Common uses: RF power measurements, signal strength, cable TV systems, microwave equipment

What is mW?

• Definition: mW (milliwatt) is a linear unit of power equal to one-thousandth of a watt

• Reference point: Absolute power measurement

• Scale: Linear

• Common uses: Power output specifications, power consumption measurements

Conversion Formula

The relationship between dBm and mW is given by:

$$P_{(mW)}={10}^{\left(\frac{P_{(dBm)}}{10}\right)}$$

Formula Breakdown

• $P_{(mW)}$ = Power in milliwatts (mW)

• $P_{(dBm)}$ = Power in decibel-milliwatts (dBm)

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How to Convert dBm to mW (Step-by-Step)

Example: Convert 20 dBm to mW

1. Use the formula:

   $$P_{(mW)}={10}^{\left(\frac{20}{10}\right)}={10}^2$$

2. Calculate:

   $${10}^2=100\text{mW}$$

3. Result:
   20 dBm = 100 mW

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Conversion Table (Common Values)

dBm	mW	Power Level Example
0 dBm	1 mW	Very low power (Bluetooth)
10 dBm	10 mW	Low-power Wi-Fi
20 dBm	100 mW	Standard Wi-Fi router
30 dBm	1000 mW (1W)	Strong RF signal
40 dBm	10,000 mW (10W)	Cellular base station