↑↓ to move · Enter to open · Esc to close

Power Converter

This power converter changes kilowatts to horsepower, watts to BTU per hour, and metric to mechanical horsepower. Use it for car engines, electric motors, and heating or cooling ratings.

Runs in your browser. Your data is not uploaded.
Built by · Updated

Result
–

How to use the Power Converter

  1. Type the Value you want to convert.
  2. Pick the unit it is in under From, and the unit you want under To. The swap button flips them.
  3. The answer updates as you type. The table below it shows the same value in every other unit, each with its own copy button.

How it works

1 hp (mechanical) = 550 ft·lbf/s = 745.699872 W
1 hp (metric, PS) = 735.49875 W
1 BTU/h = 0.29307107 W
result = value × from-unit (W) ÷ to-unit (W)

Examples

  • 1 kW = 1.341022 hp (mechanical).
  • 150 hp = 111.854981 kW.
  • 12,000 BTU/h = 3.516853 kW (a one-ton air conditioner).
  • 100 PS = 98.632007 hp.

Horsepower (mechanical) to kilowatt conversion table

Horsepower (mechanical) (hp)Kilowatt (kW)
1 hp0.7457 kW
5 hp3.728499 kW
10 hp7.456999 kW
50 hp37.284994 kW
100 hp74.569987 kW
150 hp111.854981 kW
200 hp149.139974 kW
300 hp223.709961 kW
400 hp298.279949 kW
500 hp372.849936 kW

BTU per hour to watt conversion table

BTU per hour (BTU/h)Watt (W)
5,000 BTU/h1,465.355351 W
6,000 BTU/h1,758.426421 W
8,000 BTU/h2,344.568561 W
9,000 BTU/h2,637.639632 W
10,000 BTU/h2,930.710702 W
12,000 BTU/h3,516.852842 W
18,000 BTU/h5,275.279263 W
24,000 BTU/h7,033.705684 W
36,000 BTU/h10,550.558526 W
48,000 BTU/h14,067.411368 W

Air conditioners are often sold by BTU/h. 12,000 BTU/h is one "ton" of cooling.

Two kinds of horsepower

Mechanical (imperial) horsepower, used in the US and UK, is 745.7 W. Metric horsepower, written PS, CV, or pk in Europe, is 735.5 W, about 1.4% less. A car with 150 PS has 148 hp. Electric car makers usually quote kilowatts instead, which avoids the confusion.

Limitations

  • Electrical horsepower (746 W) and boiler horsepower are not included.
  • Power can be negative in physics; negative values are converted as they are.

Read the guide

Convert engine torque and horsepower

Turn N·m into lb-ft for a torque wrench, compare PS, hp, and kW on engine specs, and see why torque and energy are kept apart.

Frequently asked questions

How many horsepower is 1 kW?

1 kW is 1.341 mechanical horsepower, or 1.360 metric horsepower (PS).

How do I convert hp to kW?

Multiply mechanical horsepower by 0.7457. For example, 200 hp × 0.7457 = 149.1 kW.

What is BTU per hour?

A unit of heating or cooling power. 1 BTU/h is 0.293 W, so a 12,000 BTU/h air conditioner moves about 3.5 kW of heat.

Often used together with Power Converter.