UnitsConverter

Foot-pound per Second to Milliwatt Converter

Convert ft⋅lb/s to milliwatts with our free online power converter.

Quick Answer

1 Foot-pound per Second = 1355.817948 milliwatts

Formula: Foot-pound per Second × conversion factor = Milliwatt

Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.

Our Accuracy Guarantee

All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.

Last verified: February 2026Reviewed by: Sam Mathew, Software Engineer

Foot-pound per Second to Milliwatt Calculator

How to Use the Foot-pound per Second to Milliwatt Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Foot-pound per Second).
  2. The converted value in Milliwatt will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Power category.
  4. Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
Share:

How to Convert Foot-pound per Second to Milliwatt: Step-by-Step Guide

Converting Foot-pound per Second to Milliwatt involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

mW = ft⋅lb/s × 1355.82

Example Calculation:

1 ft⋅lb/s = 1355.817948 mW

Disclaimer: For Reference Only

These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.

Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.

Need to convert to other power units?

View all Power conversions →
📊 Power Table

Print-friendly conversion reference

📋 Unit Symbols

Copy ft⋅lb/s & mW symbols

What is a Foot-pound per Second and a Milliwatt?

1 ft⋅lbf/s = 1.356 W = 0.001356 kW = 0.001818 hp = 4.627 BTU/h

Horsepower relationship: 550 ft⋅lbf/s = 1 hp (745.7 W) exactly

1 mW = 0.001 W = 0.000001 kW = 1,000 µW (microwatts)

Note: The Foot-pound per Second is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Milliwatt belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

Common Uses and Applications: ft⋅lb/s vs milliwatts

Explore the typical applications for both Foot-pound per Second (imperial/US) and Milliwatt (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for ft⋅lb/s

Physics Education: Teaching power concepts, mechanical work problems. Classical Mechanics: Textbook problems, engineering fundamentals. Historical: Steam engine era calculations (now use hp or kW). Rarely Practical: Most real applications use hp, kW, or watts.

When to Use milliwatts

Lasers: Pointer lasers (1-5 mW), barcode scanners (1-10 mW). Wireless: Bluetooth (1-100 mW), Wi-Fi (10-1,000 mW), RFID tags. Medical: Hearing aids (1 mW), pacemakers (50-100 µW standby). Electronics: LEDs, sensors, low-power circuits.

Additional Unit Information

About Foot-pound per Second (ft⋅lb/s)

How do I convert ft⋅lbf/s to horsepower?

Formula: hp = ft⋅lbf/s ÷ 550

Examples:

  • 550 ft⋅lbf/s = 1 hp (exact definition)
  • 1,100 ft⋅lbf/s = 2 hp
  • 275 ft⋅lbf/s = 0.5 hp
  • 5,500 ft⋅lbf/s = 10 hp

ft⋅lbf/s to HP converter →

How do I convert ft⋅lbf/s to watts?

Formula: W = ft⋅lbf/s × 1.356

Examples:

  • 100 ft⋅lbf/s = 135.6 W
  • 550 ft⋅lbf/s = 746 W (1 hp)
  • 1,000 ft⋅lbf/s = 1,356 W = 1.356 kW

ft⋅lbf/s to Watts converter →

Why is 1 hp = 550 ft⋅lbf/s?

Historical origin: James Watt (1780s) measured draft horses' work capacity

Experiment: Horse lifting coal from mine

  • Typical horse: Lifted ~22,000 lb⋅ft per minute
  • Watt's marketing: Rated engines at 33,000 lb⋅ft/min (50% safety margin)
  • Conversion: 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min ÷ 60 = 550 ft⋅lbf/s = 1 hp

Modern equivalent: 1 hp = 745.7 W = 0.746 kW

Persists: Still used for engines despite metric system adoption.

How do I calculate power from force and velocity?

Formula: Power (ft⋅lbf/s) = Force (lbf) × Velocity (ft/s)

Examples:

  • Towing 1,000 lb at 10 ft/s: 10,000 ft⋅lbf/s = 18.2 hp = 13.6 kW
  • Lifting 500 lb at 2 ft/s: 1,000 ft⋅lbf/s = 1.82 hp = 1.36 kW
  • Pushing 200 lb at 5 ft/s: 1,000 ft⋅lbf/s = 1.82 hp

SI equivalent: Power (W) = Force (N) × Velocity (m/s)

About Milliwatt (mW)

How do I convert mW to watts or microwatts?

Formula:

  • W = mW × 0.001 (or mW ÷ 1,000)
  • µW = mW × 1,000

Examples:

  • 1 mW = 0.001 W = 1,000 µW
  • 100 mW = 0.1 W = 100,000 µW
  • 1,000 mW = 1 W = 1,000,000 µW
  • 10 mW = 0.01 W = 10,000 µW

mW to Watts converter →

What is a safe laser power in mW?

Laser safety classes:

Class 1 (< 0.4 mW): Inherently safe, cannot damage eye Class 2 (0.4-1 mW): Safe with blink reflex (~0.25 seconds) Class 3R (1-5 mW): Low risk with brief exposure, common laser pointers Class 3B (5-500 mW): Eye hazard, can cause injury Class 4 (> 500 mW): Severe eye and skin hazard, fire risk

Recommendations:

  • Safe for general use: ≤ 1 mW (Class 2)
  • Laser pointers (legal): < 5 mW in US (many countries limit to 1 mW)
  • Avoid: > 5 mW for general use
  • Industrial/medical: 10-10,000+ mW (requires safety training)

Example: 5 mW green laser appears ~30x brighter than 5 mW red laser to human eye (wavelength sensitivity).

How much power does a typical Bluetooth device use?

Bluetooth power classes:

Class 1: 100 mW (20 dBm) - Range: ~100 meters

  • Use case: Industrial, long-range applications

Class 2: 2.5 mW (4 dBm) - Range: ~10 meters

  • Use case: Most consumer devices (headphones, mice)

Class 3: 1 mW (0 dBm) - Range: ~1 meter

  • Use case: Very low power, proximity devices

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): 0.01-10 mW

  • Advertising: 0.01-1 mW (intermittent)
  • Connected: 1-10 mW
  • Deep sleep: 0.001-0.01 mW

Examples:

  • Wireless earbuds: 2-10 mW (Class 2/3)
  • Bluetooth speaker: 2.5-10 mW (Class 2)
  • Fitness tracker: 0.1-5 mW (BLE)

What is dBm and how does it relate to mW?

dBm = Decibels relative to 1 milliwatt (logarithmic power scale)

Formula: dBm = 10 × log₁₀(mW)

Common conversions:

| dBm | mW | Description | |-----|-------|-------------| | 0 | 1 | Reference | | 3 | 2 | Double | | 10 | 10 | 10x | | 20 | 100 | 100x | | 30 | 1,000 | 1W | | -10 | 0.1 | 1/10 | | -20 | 0.01 | 1/100 | | -30 | 0.001 | 1 µW |

Why use dBm?

  • Large ranges easier to express: -50 dBm to +30 dBm vs 0.00001 mW to 1,000 mW
  • Simplifies gain/loss calculations (add/subtract vs multiply/divide)

Examples:

  • Wi-Fi signal: -30 to -90 dBm (1,000 mW to 0.000001 mW)
  • Cell tower: +43 dBm = 20,000 mW (20W)
  • Bluetooth: 0 to +20 dBm (1-100 mW)

How long can a battery power a device using mW?

Formula: Battery life (hours) = (Battery capacity in mWh) ÷ (Device power in mW)

Example calculations:

CR2032 coin cell: 225 mAh @ 3V = 675 mWh

  • LED (20 mW): 675 ÷ 20 = 34 hours
  • Bluetooth beacon (1 mW avg): 675 ÷ 1 = 675 hours (~28 days)
  • Watch (0.01 mW avg): 675 ÷ 0.01 = 67,500 hours (~7.7 years)

AA battery: 2,500 mAh @ 1.5V = 3,750 mWh

  • LED flashlight (500 mW): 3,750 ÷ 500 = 7.5 hours
  • Remote control (5 mW avg): 3,750 ÷ 5 = 750 hours (~31 days active)

Smartphone battery: 15 Wh = 15,000 mWh

  • Idle (200 mW): 15,000 ÷ 200 = 75 hours (~3 days)
  • Active use (2,000 mW): 15,000 ÷ 2,000 = 7.5 hours

Conversion Table: Foot-pound per Second to Milliwatt

Foot-pound per Second (ft⋅lb/s)Milliwatt (mW)
0.5677.909
11,355.818
1.52,033.727
22,711.636
56,779.09
1013,558.18
2533,895.449
5067,790.897
100135,581.795
250338,954.487
500677,908.974
1,0001,355,817.948

People Also Ask

How do I convert Foot-pound per Second to Milliwatt?

To convert Foot-pound per Second to Milliwatt, enter the value in Foot-pound per Second in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our power converter page to convert between other units in this category.

Learn more →

What is the conversion factor from Foot-pound per Second to Milliwatt?

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Foot-pound per Second and Milliwatt. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.

Can I convert Milliwatt back to Foot-pound per Second?

Yes! You can easily convert Milliwatt back to Foot-pound per Second by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Milliwatt to Foot-pound per Second converter page. You can also explore other power conversions on our category page.

Learn more →

What are common uses for Foot-pound per Second and Milliwatt?

Foot-pound per Second and Milliwatt are both standard units used in power measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our power converter for more conversion options.

For more power conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.

Helpful Conversion Guides

Learn more about unit conversion with our comprehensive guides:

📚 How to Convert Units

Step-by-step guide to unit conversion with practical examples.

🔢 Conversion Formulas

Essential formulas for power and other conversions.

⚖️ Metric vs Imperial

Understand the differences between measurement systems.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Learn about frequent errors and how to avoid them.

View All Guides →

All Power Conversions

Watt to MilliwattWatt to KilowattWatt to MegawattWatt to GigawattWatt to HorsepowerWatt to Metric HorsepowerWatt to Electric HorsepowerWatt to BTU per HourWatt to BTU per MinuteWatt to BTU per SecondWatt to Foot-pound per SecondWatt to Foot-pound per MinuteWatt to Calorie per SecondWatt to Kilocalorie per HourWatt to Ton of RefrigerationWatt to Erg per SecondWatt to Joule per SecondMilliwatt to WattMilliwatt to KilowattMilliwatt to MegawattMilliwatt to GigawattMilliwatt to HorsepowerMilliwatt to Metric HorsepowerMilliwatt to Electric HorsepowerMilliwatt to BTU per HourMilliwatt to BTU per MinuteMilliwatt to BTU per SecondMilliwatt to Foot-pound per SecondMilliwatt to Foot-pound per MinuteMilliwatt to Calorie per SecondMilliwatt to Kilocalorie per HourMilliwatt to Ton of RefrigerationMilliwatt to Erg per SecondMilliwatt to Joule per SecondKilowatt to WattKilowatt to MilliwattKilowatt to MegawattKilowatt to GigawattKilowatt to HorsepowerKilowatt to Metric HorsepowerKilowatt to Electric HorsepowerKilowatt to BTU per HourKilowatt to BTU per MinuteKilowatt to BTU per SecondKilowatt to Foot-pound per SecondKilowatt to Foot-pound per MinuteKilowatt to Calorie per SecondKilowatt to Kilocalorie per HourKilowatt to Ton of RefrigerationKilowatt to Erg per SecondKilowatt to Joule per SecondMegawatt to WattMegawatt to MilliwattMegawatt to KilowattMegawatt to GigawattMegawatt to HorsepowerMegawatt to Metric HorsepowerMegawatt to Electric HorsepowerMegawatt to BTU per HourMegawatt to BTU per MinuteMegawatt to BTU per SecondMegawatt to Foot-pound per SecondMegawatt to Foot-pound per MinuteMegawatt to Calorie per SecondMegawatt to Kilocalorie per HourMegawatt to Ton of RefrigerationMegawatt to Erg per SecondMegawatt to Joule per SecondGigawatt to WattGigawatt to MilliwattGigawatt to KilowattGigawatt to MegawattGigawatt to HorsepowerGigawatt to Metric HorsepowerGigawatt to Electric HorsepowerGigawatt to BTU per HourGigawatt to BTU per MinuteGigawatt to BTU per SecondGigawatt to Foot-pound per SecondGigawatt to Foot-pound per MinuteGigawatt to Calorie per SecondGigawatt to Kilocalorie per HourGigawatt to Ton of RefrigerationGigawatt to Erg per SecondGigawatt to Joule per SecondHorsepower to WattHorsepower to MilliwattHorsepower to KilowattHorsepower to MegawattHorsepower to GigawattHorsepower to Metric HorsepowerHorsepower to Electric HorsepowerHorsepower to BTU per HourHorsepower to BTU per MinuteHorsepower to BTU per SecondHorsepower to Foot-pound per SecondHorsepower to Foot-pound per MinuteHorsepower to Calorie per SecondHorsepower to Kilocalorie per HourHorsepower to Ton of RefrigerationHorsepower to Erg per SecondHorsepower to Joule per SecondMetric Horsepower to WattMetric Horsepower to MilliwattMetric Horsepower to KilowattMetric Horsepower to MegawattMetric Horsepower to GigawattMetric Horsepower to HorsepowerMetric Horsepower to Electric HorsepowerMetric Horsepower to BTU per HourMetric Horsepower to BTU per MinuteMetric Horsepower to BTU per SecondMetric Horsepower to Foot-pound per SecondMetric Horsepower to Foot-pound per MinuteMetric Horsepower to Calorie per SecondMetric Horsepower to Kilocalorie per HourMetric Horsepower to Ton of RefrigerationMetric Horsepower to Erg per SecondMetric Horsepower to Joule per SecondElectric Horsepower to Watt

Other Power Units and Conversions

Explore other power units and their conversion options:

View all power units →

Verified Against Authority Standards

All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.

NIST Reference on Constants, Units and Uncertainty

National Institute of Standards and Technology — Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions

BIPM SI Units

Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards

ISO 80000

International Organization for Standardization — Quantities and units international standards series

Last verified: February 19, 2026