How We Convert MWO and UWO Into Comparable Max Torque

DeWalt rates many of its drills by Max Watts Out (MWO) or Unit Watts Out (UWO) instead of listing max torque in inch-pounds. To compare these tools fairly against brands like Milwaukee or Makita, we built a power-based model that converts watt ratings into realistic torque values.

Understanding the numbers

DeWalt’s MWO represents peak mechanical output power, i.e., the maximum work the motor can deliver under load. UWO is an older internal rating that tracks with output power but isn’t a true watt measurement.

Milwaukee’s torque ratings, by contrast, are measured around the moment just before the motor stall, which produces a much higher figure. To compare them, we needed a way to connect power and torque across the motor’s full speed range.

Power, torque, and speed

Every electric drill follows the same principle:

• Power = torque × rotational speed
• As speed decreases, torque increases
• Peak power happens at about half the no-load speed and half the stall torque

If we know a tool’s maximum power and its no-load speed in low gear, we can estimate its stall torque accurately.

From MWO to torque

The motor model starts with the relationship:

Peak Power = (Stall Torque × No-Load Speed) ÷ 4

Rearranging gives:

Stall Torque = 4 × Peak Power ÷ No-Load Speed

Converted into inch-pounds, that becomes:

Stall torque (in-lb) ≈ 338.32 × MWO (W) ÷ N₀ (RPM)

Here N₀ is the no-load RPM in the lowest gear (for example, for a drill with 3 speed ranges from from 0-450/0-1100/0-2000 RPM, we use 450).

Because drills can briefly exceed their continuous rating, burst torque under heavy load is usually between 1.2–1.6× of the continuous rating, depending on the tool and battery configuration.

Converting UWO to MWO

DeWalt never published a conversion, but testing shows a consistent relationship:

MWO (W) ≈ 1.25 × UWO

That factor aligns older brushed and early brushless models with newer MWO-rated tools. Once converted, the same torque formula applies.

Example: 1530 W at 0–450 RPM

• MWO = 1530 W
• Low-gear no-load speed = 450 RPM

Estimated stall torque:

338.32 × 1530 ÷ 450 ≈ 1150 in-lb

With a modest burst factor of 1.3×, that gives roughly 1500 in-lb of short-term torque, matching what reviewers observe when this DeWalt competes with Milwaukee’s high-end drills. At around 100 RPM, torque remains close to 900 in-lb, which is the range most heavy fastener driving actually happens in.

Why this approach matters

Brand specs highlight different points on the same curve. DeWalt’s MWO reflects sustained work capacity, while Milwaukee’s max torque represents short bursts near stall. By converting both back to physics, we can compare them directly, inch-pound for inch-pound.

The takeaway

When you see torque estimates for DeWalt tools on ToolDecoded, they come from this model:

• UWO to MWO: multiply UWO by 1.25
• MWO to torque: 338.32 × MWO ÷ low-gear RPM x 1.30 peak burst multiplier