Convert RF power between dBm, watts, milliwatts, microwatts, and dBW instantly.
dBm → Power
Watts (W)
Milliwatts (mW)
Microwatts (μW)
dBW
Watts → dBm
dBm
Milliwatts (mW)
Microwatts (μW)
dBW
Common RF Power Levels
dBm
Watts
Description
50 dBm
100 W
High power PA
43 dBm
20 W
LTE eNodeB typical
40 dBm
10 W
Typical base station
30 dBm
1 W
Strong signal
20 dBm
100 mW
WiFi max
0 dBm
1 mW
Reference level
−10 dBm
100 μW
Good receive signal
−90 dBm
1 pW
Near sensitivity floor
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dBm?
dBm is a unit of power expressed in decibels relative to 1 milliwatt (mW). It is used extensively in RF engineering, telecommunications, and wireless networking because it allows large and small power values to be expressed conveniently on a logarithmic scale. A positive dBm value means the power is above 1 mW; a negative dBm value means it is below 1 mW.
Why use dBm instead of watts?
RF power levels span an enormous range — from hundreds of watts at a transmitter to picowatts at a receiver. Using dBm compresses this range into manageable numbers (for example, 100 W = 50 dBm, 1 pW = −90 dBm). It also makes link budget calculations simple: gains and losses can be added and subtracted in dB rather than multiplied and divided as linear ratios.
What is the reference level for dBm?
The reference level for dBm is 1 milliwatt (1 mW). By definition, 0 dBm = 1 mW. This means 10 dBm = 10 mW, 20 dBm = 100 mW, and 30 dBm = 1 W. Every 10 dB increase represents a 10× increase in power; every 3 dB increase approximately doubles the power.