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Milliwatt to Foot-pound per Minute Converter

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

Quick Answer

1 Milliwatt = 0.044254 ft⋅lb/min

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

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

Milliwatt to Foot-pound per Minute Calculator

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

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Milliwatt).
  2. The converted value in Foot-pound per Minute 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.
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How to Convert Milliwatt to Foot-pound per Minute: Step-by-Step Guide

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

Formula:

ft⋅lb/min = mW × 0.0442537

Example Calculation:

1 mW = 0.044254 ft⋅lb/min

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.

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

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

1 ft⋅lbf/min = 0.0226 W = 0.0000226 kW = 0.00003 hp = 0.0771 BTU/h

Horsepower relationship: 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 1 hp (745.7 W) exactly

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

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

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

Common Uses for 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.

When to Use ft⋅lb/min

Historical: Original horsepower definition (Watt, 1780s). Engineering Education: Teaching power unit derivations. Rarely Used: Impractically small for modern applications. Conversion Reference: Link between hp and ft⋅lbf/s.

Additional Unit Information

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

About Foot-pound per Minute (ft⋅lb/min)

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

Formula: hp = ft⋅lbf/min ÷ 33,000

Examples:

  • 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 1 hp (exact)
  • 16,500 ft⋅lbf/min = 0.5 hp
  • 66,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 2 hp
  • 330,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 10 hp

ft⋅lbf/min to HP converter →

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

Formula: ft⋅lbf/s = ft⋅lbf/min ÷ 60

Examples:

  • 60 ft⋅lbf/min = 1 ft⋅lbf/s
  • 600 ft⋅lbf/min = 10 ft⋅lbf/s
  • 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 550 ft⋅lbf/s = 1 hp

ft⋅lbf/min to ft⋅lbf/s converter →

Why 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min for 1 hp?

James Watt's experiment (1780s):

Observation: Draft horses in coal mines

  • Work rate: Lifting ~22,000 lb⋅ft/min (typical horse)
  • Watt's definition: 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min (50% above average)
  • Marketing: Sell steam engines rated conservatively vs horses

Calculation:

  • 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min ÷ 60 = 550 ft⋅lbf/s
  • 550 ft⋅lbf/s × 1.356 = 745.7 W (modern equivalent)

Persists: Still defines horsepower 240+ years later!

How do I calculate power in ft⋅lbf/min?

Formula: Power (ft⋅lbf/min) = Force (lbf) × Distance per minute (ft/min)

Examples:

  • Lifting 100 lb at 10 ft/min: 1,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 0.03 hp = 22.6 W
  • Winch pulling 500 lb at 20 ft/min: 10,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 0.3 hp = 226 W
  • Elevator lifting 2,000 lb at 100 ft/min: 200,000 ft⋅lbf/min = 6.06 hp = 4.52 kW

Modern practice: Convert to hp or kW for practical use.

Conversion Table: Milliwatt to Foot-pound per Minute

Milliwatt (mW)Foot-pound per Minute (ft⋅lb/min)
0.50.022
10.044
1.50.066
20.089
50.221
100.443
251.106
502.213
1004.425
25011.063
50022.127
1,00044.254

People Also Ask

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

To convert Milliwatt to Foot-pound per Minute, enter the value in Milliwatt 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.

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

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Milliwatt and Foot-pound per Minute. 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 Foot-pound per Minute back to Milliwatt?

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

Learn more →

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

Milliwatt and Foot-pound per Minute 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

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📚 How to Convert Units

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All Power Conversions

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Other Power Units and Conversions

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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