Kilovolt to Megavolt Converter

This article will show how to convert voltage measurement units from kilovolts (kV) to megavolts (MV). We will cover essential definitions, provide examples, share relevant formulas, and present tables, along with answers to common questions.

Definitions of Volt, Kilovolt, and Megavolt

Let’s get started by understanding the key definitions of Volt (V), Kilovolt (kV), and Megavolt (MV). Understanding these terms will allow you to perform conversions confidently.

What is Volt (V)?

A volt (V) is the SI (International System of Units) unit of electric potential and voltage. It measures the difference in electric energy between two points in a circuit. One volt means one ampere of current uses one watt of power.^[1]

According to SI prefixes^[2], which are based on powers of 10, a volt (1 V) is equivalent to one-thousandth kilovolts, or 10^-3 kV, or 0.001 kV.

Definition and illustration of a volt. — What is a Volt? The definition and illustration.

What is Kilovolt (kV)?

A kilovolt (kV) is a unit of electrical potential equal to one thousand volts (1,000 V). Think of it like measuring water pressure in a garden hose versus a fire hydrant. Kilovolts help quantify high-voltage systems where standard voltage measurements are too small to be practical.

What is Megavolt (MV)?

A megavolt (MV) is a unit of electrical potential equal to one million volts (1,000,000 V). Think of it like comparing the height of a building to a mountain. Megavolts help quantify extremely high voltages where standard volt measurements are impractical.

kV to MV formula

Let’s take a closer look at the conversion formula so you can carry out these conversions independently, whether using a calculator or doing it manually with pencil and paper.

The kilo- prefix in the International System of Units (SI) represents a multiplier of 10³ (1,000) while the mega- represents a multiplier of 10⁶ (1,000,000) .

So, to convert from kilovolts to megavolts, divide the number of kilovolts (V_(kV)) by 10³ or 1,000.

V_(MV) = V_(kV) ÷ 10³ = V_(kV) ÷ 1,000

\text{V}_\text{(MV)} = \frac{\text{V}_\text{(kV)}}{1{,}000}

Or remember the kV-to-MV conversion factor: 1 kV = 10^-3 = 0.001 MV

kV to MV conversion table

The conversion table below provides a handy reference for converting voltage measurement units from kilovolts (kV) to megavolts (MV). It covers a range from 0.1 kV to 1,000 kV, allowing for easy and quick conversions between both units of measurement.

Kilovolts (kV)	Megavolts (MV)
0.1 kV	0.0001 MV
0.5 kV	0.0005 MV
1 kV	0.001 MV
2 kV	0.002 MV
4 kV	0.004 MV
5 kV	0.005 MV
10 kV	0.01 MV
20 kV	0.02 MV
30 kV	0.03 MV
40 kV	0.04 MV
50 kV	0.05 MV
60 kV	0.06 MV
70 kV	0.07 MV
80 kV	0.08 MV
90 kV	0.09 MV
100 kV	0.1 MV
200 kV	0.2 MV
500 kV	0.5 MV
800 kV	0.8 MV
1,000 kV	1 MV

Kilovolts (kV) to Megavolts (MV) conversion table

Examples

Now, let's look at an example that illustrates the calculations required to convert from kilovolts to megavolts (kV to MV).

Example: Grid Efficiency Analysis

Large-scale power transmission networks operate at kilovolts, but engineers need megavolt-scale data to assess voltage stability across extensive electrical grids. Converting kilovolts to megavolts ensures proper infrastructure design and energy efficiency.

How many megavolts is 1,500 kilovolts to determine the voltage distribution in a national power transmission system?

Solution

Since 1 megavolts (MV) = 1,000 kilovolts (kV), we can convert 1,500 kV to megavolts by using the following formula:

$$\text{V}_\text{(MV)} = \frac{\text{V}_\text{(kV)}}{1{,}000}$$

$$\text{V}_\text{(MV)} = \frac{1{,}500}{1{,}000} = \boxed{1.5 \text{ MV}}$$

Therefore, the 1,500 kV output voltage of the grid is equivalent to 1.5 MV.

To solve the problem with our calculator, follow the steps below:

Enter the value in kilovolts – For this example, enter 1,500 into the From box.
View the result – The converter instantly calculates and displays the equivalent value in megavolts: 1.5 MV.

Kilovolt to Megavolt Converter Example — Steps to convert from kilovolts to megavolts with our calculator

FAQs

Is 1 kilovolt or 1 megavolt larger?

A megavolt (MV) is a thousand times bigger than a kilovolt (kV). Here are the relationships between the units:

1 MV = 10³ = 1,000 kV
1 kV = 10^-3 = 1 ÷ 1,000 = 0.001 MV

How to convert from kilovolts to megavolts?

To convert voltage from kilovolts (kV) to megavolts (MV), follow these simple steps:

Write down the voltage value in kilovolts (kV).
Multiply it by the value of the kV-to-MV conversion factor: 10^-3 or 0.001.
The result of the multiplication is the value of the voltage in megavolts (MV).

Why do I need to convert from kilovolts to megavolts?

Kilovolts (kV) represent high voltage levels, while megavolts (MV) are used for large-scale electrical applications such as power transmission, particle accelerators, and lightning research. Converting kilovolts to megavolts ensures compatibility with high-energy systems, allowing engineers and scientists to analyze voltage levels more effectively for infrastructure design, experimentation, and system optimization.

This conversion simplifies calculations, improves data readability, and ensures consistency in industries that require extreme voltage measurements. Whether assessing grid stability, calibrating radiation therapy machines, or modeling high-energy physics experiments, working with megavolts makes voltage data more practical for large-scale applications.

You now know how to convert voltage from kilovolts (kV) to megavolts (MV). You can quickly use our calculator to convert between the voltage measurement units to save time for future calculations.