Earthquake Magnitude Energy Calculator
Enter two earthquake magnitudes to compare how much more energy the larger one releases.
Last updated: September 5, 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much more energy does a magnitude 7 earthquake release than a magnitude 6?
About 31.6 times more - each whole-number increase in the Richter/moment magnitude scale corresponds to roughly 31.6× more released energy, following the formula energy = 10^(1.5×M + 4.8) joules.
Why does a 1-point magnitude increase mean 10× the shaking but 31.6× the energy?
The magnitude scale is defined logarithmically on ground-motion amplitude (10× per whole point), but energy scales with amplitude to the 1.5 power, not 1-to-1 - so a 10× amplitude increase corresponds to 10^1.5 ≈ 31.6× more energy.
What does the Gutenberg-Richter energy formula assume?
It's an empirical relationship calibrated to typical earthquake source characteristics - it gives a good general estimate but the exact energy of a specific earthquake also depends on factors like fault geometry, depth, and rupture duration that aren't captured by magnitude alone.
Is this the Richter scale or the moment magnitude scale?
The energy formula works the same way for both, since modern earthquake reporting mostly uses moment magnitude (Mw), which was designed to align closely with the original Richter scale's numbers for most earthquakes while working better for very large events.
How much more energy does a magnitude 9 earthquake release than a magnitude 6?
About 31,623 times more - a 3-point magnitude difference means (10^1.5)³ = 10^4.5 ≈ 31,623 times the energy, since each whole point multiplies energy by roughly 31.6×.
Can this calculator compare a fractional magnitude difference, like 6.5 versus 6.0?
Yes - enter both magnitudes as decimals and the formula energy = 10^(1.5×M + 4.8) handles any fractional value, giving an energy ratio of 10^(1.5×0.5) ≈ 5.6 times more energy for a 0.5-point increase.
Does a higher magnitude always mean more damage?
Not necessarily - magnitude measures total energy released at the source, but felt damage also depends on depth, distance from populated areas, soil type, and building construction, so a smaller, shallow, nearby earthquake can sometimes cause more damage than a larger, deep, or remote one.