The conversion of 1 milliwatt (mW) to decibel-milliwatts (dBm) results in 0 dBm.
This is because 0 dBm represents exactly 1 mW, so converting 1 mW into dBm gives a direct reading of zero, indicating equal power levels. The dBm unit measures power relative to 1 milliwatt, meaning any power level can be expressed as a logarithmic ratio compared to 1 mW.
Conversion Result for 1 mW to dBm
1 milliwatt equals 0 decibel-milliwatts, because the dBm scale is logarithmic and based on 1 mW as the reference point. In simple terms, when the power in milliwatts is 1, the dBm value is zero, showing no gain or loss relative to 1 mW.
Conversion Tool
Result in dbm:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert milliwatts to dBm is 10 times the base-10 logarithm of the power in milliwatts. This works because dBm measures power level relative to 1 mW on a logarithmic scale, which compresses large ranges of power into manageable numbers. For example, for 2 mW, the calculation is 10*log10(2) = 3.0103 dBm, showing that 2 mW is about 3 dBm above 1 mW.
Conversion Example
- Convert 0.5 mW to dBm:
- Calculate log10(0.5) = -0.3010
- Multiply by 10: 10 * -0.3010 = -3.0103 dBm
- Result: -3.0103 dBm, indicating a power less than 1 mW
- Convert 10 mW to dBm:
- Calculate log10(10) = 1
- Multiply by 10: 10 * 1 = 10 dBm
- Result: 10 dBm, which is 10 times the power in mW
- Convert 5 mW to dBm:
- Calculate log10(5) = 0.69897
- Multiply by 10: 10 * 0.69897 = 6.9897 dBm
- Result: approximately 6.99 dBm
Conversion Chart
| mW | dBm |
|---|---|
| -24.0 | -24.0000 |
| -20.0 | -20.0000 |
| -16.0 | -16.0000 |
| -12.0 | -12.0000 |
| -8.0 | -8.0000 |
| -4.0 | -4.0000 |
| 0.0 | 0.0000 |
| 4.0 | 6.0206 |
| 8.0 | 9.0302 |
| 12.0 | 10.7914 |
| 16.0 | 12.0206 |
| 20.0 | 13.0103 |
| 24.0 | 13.9794 |
| 26.0 | 14.1563 |
Use this chart to quickly find the dBm value for a given milliwatt level. Read across the row to see the corresponding power in dBm for each milliwatt amount. It’s helpful for quick references when working with power levels in electronics or radio systems.
Related Conversion Questions
- How many dBm is 1 mW of power?
- What is the dBm value for 0.5 mW?
- Can I convert 1 milliwatt to dBm without a calculator?
- What is the logarithmic formula for converting mW to dBm?
- How does increasing power from 1 mW affect the dBm measurement?
- Is 1 mW equivalent to 0 dBm in all contexts?
- What is the power in mW for a device rated at -10 dBm?
Conversion Definitions
mw: A unit of power measurement equal to one-thousandth of a watt, used to quantify small power levels in electronics, radio, and signal processing. It provides a base for logarithmic conversions to dBm.
dbm: A logarithmic unit expressing power relative to 1 milliwatt. It indicates how many decibels a power level is above or below 1 mW, useful in telecommunications and RF engineering for comparing signal strengths.
Conversion FAQs
Why is 1 mW equal to 0 dBm?
Because 0 dBm is the reference point representing exactly 1 milliwatt, so when power equals 1 mW, the dBm value is naturally zero, showing no difference from the reference power level.
How do I convert 5 mW to dBm manually?
Take the base-10 logarithm of 5, which is about 0.69897, then multiply by 10: 10 * 0.69897 = 6.9897 dBm. This indicates 5 mW is roughly 7 dBm above 1 mW.
What does a negative dBm value imply?
A negative dBm value indicates the power level is below 1 milliwatt. For example, -10 dBm means the power is less than 1 mW, decreasing by 10 decibels relative to 1 mW.
Is the conversion of mW to dBm linear?
No, because the dBm scale is logarithmic, meaning each 10 dB change corresponds to a tenfold increase or decrease in power, not a simple linear relationship.
Can I use this conversion for any power level?
Yes, this formula applies to all positive power levels in milliwatts, but for zero or negative power levels, different considerations or units may be needed. The logarithm of zero is undefined, so 0 mW cannot be converted directly.
