How to convert decibels to microwatts per square centimeter
µW/cm² = 1×10⁻¹⁰ × 10^(dB SIL ÷ 10)Decibels are logarithmic. Divide the level by 10, raise 10 to that power, then multiply by the reference (1×10⁻¹⁰ µW/cm²).
Worked examples
- 20 decibels (SIL)20 dB SIL → 1×10⁻⁸ µW/cm²
- 50 decibels (SIL)50 dB SIL → 0.00001 µW/cm²
- 80 decibels (SIL)80 dB SIL → 0.01 µW/cm²
- 90 decibels (SIL)90 dB SIL → 0.1 µW/cm²
- 120 decibels (SIL)120 dB SIL → 100 µW/cm²
Decibels to microwatts per square centimeter conversion table
Values are calculated by the conversion engine using the full formula and rounded to 8 significant figures.
| Decibels (dB SIL) | Microwatts per square centimeter (µW/cm²) |
|---|---|
| 0 dB SIL | 1×10⁻¹⁰ µW/cm² |
| 10 dB SIL | 1×10⁻⁹ µW/cm² |
| 20 dB SIL | 1×10⁻⁸ µW/cm² |
| 30 dB SIL | 1×10⁻⁷ µW/cm² |
| 40 dB SIL | 0.000001 µW/cm² |
| 50 dB SIL | 0.00001 µW/cm² |
| 60 dB SIL | 0.0001 µW/cm² |
| Decibels (dB SIL) | Microwatts per square centimeter (µW/cm²) |
|---|---|
| 70 dB SIL | 0.001 µW/cm² |
| 80 dB SIL | 0.01 µW/cm² |
| 90 dB SIL | 0.1 µW/cm² |
| 100 dB SIL | 1 µW/cm² |
| 110 dB SIL | 10 µW/cm² |
| 120 dB SIL | 100 µW/cm² |
| 130 dB SIL | 1,000 µW/cm² |
About the units
Decibel (dB SIL)
The decibel (dB SIL) is a unit of sound intensity level. It is a logarithmic level: 0 dB SIL corresponds to 1×10⁻¹² W/m².
Microwatt per square centimeter (µW/cm²)
The microwatt per square centimeter (µW/cm²) is a unit of sound intensity level in the International System of Units (SI). One microwatt per square centimeter equals 0.01 watts per square meter (W/m²).
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula to convert decibels to microwatts per square centimeter?
µW/cm² = 1×10⁻¹⁰ × 10^(dB SIL ÷ 10). Decibels are logarithmic. Divide the level by 10, raise 10 to that power, then multiply by the reference (1×10⁻¹⁰ µW/cm²).
What is 50 decibels (SIL) in microwatts per square centimeter?
50 dB SIL = 0.00001 µW/cm².
Is this dB SIL to µW/cm² converter accurate?
Yes. Both units are defined exactly in terms of SI units, so the conversion factor is exact; results are shown to 12 significant figures by default and you can change precision in the converter. Calculations run in your browser using the same tested engine that generated this page.