UnitSnapVoltage converter
Voltage, or electric potential difference, is the energy per unit charge between two points in a circuit. The SI unit is the volt (V), equal to one watt per ampere or one joule per coulomb. Millivolts describe sensor and biological signals, volts describe batteries and household outlets, and kilovolts and megavolts describe power transmission and high-energy physics.
Convert between 6 voltage units. Pick any two units below; results update as you type.
About voltage units
Household mains voltage differs by region: North America uses about 120 V, while most of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia use 220 to 240 V. Older CGS systems define the abvolt (EMU), exactly 10⁻⁸ V, and the statvolt (ESU), about 299.79 V.
The statvolt's size comes from the speed of light: one statvolt equals exactly 299.792458 V, matching the numerical value of the speed of light in units of 10⁶ m/s.
Tips
- Check the voltage rating before plugging in devices abroad; many chargers accept 100 to 240 V, but some appliances do not.
- Electrical power equals voltage multiplied by current, so the same power at higher voltage needs less current.
- Voltages above roughly 50 V can be hazardous; treat kilovolt-level equipment with professional precautions.
All voltage units
| Unit | Symbol | Value in millivolts |
|---|---|---|
| Millivolts | mV | 1 mV = 1 mV |
| Volts | V | 1 V = 1,000 mV |
| Kilovolts | kV | 1 kV = 1,000,000 mV |
| Megavolts | MV | 1 MV = 1,000,000,000 mV |
| Abvolts | abV | 1 abV = 0.00001 mV |
| Statvolts | statV | 1 statV = 299,792.5 mV |
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Factors: NIST SP 811 · SI Brochure · NIST Handbook 44 — Updated