Earthquake Magnitude & Energy Calculator
Compare earthquakes by magnitude: the energy released, the TNT equivalent and how many times stronger one quake is than another.
How to use
- 1Enter an earthquake's magnitude.
- 2Enter a second magnitude to compare the energy and shaking amplitude.
How it's calculated
Energy (joules) ≈ 10^(1.5 M + 4.8) (Gutenberg–Richter). Each whole step in magnitude is about 31.6× more energy and 10× more ground-motion amplitude. 1 ton TNT = 4.184 × 10⁹ J.
Frequently asked questions
Do we still use the Richter scale?
Scientists now use the moment magnitude scale (Mw), which is consistent with Richter for moderate quakes but works better for large ones.
How much stronger is a 7.0 than a 6.0?
About 32 times more energy and 10 times more ground-shaking amplitude.
Does magnitude tell me the damage?
Not by itself — depth, distance, soil and building quality matter. Intensity scales like Modified Mercalli describe local shaking.