What this converter does
This converter turns kilowatts into horsepower and back instantly. It covers mechanical, metric and electrical horsepower, plus watts and megawatts — every pair uses an exact, internationally fixed factor, so the answer is precise rather than rounded. Type a value, pick your units, and read the result as you type.
One mechanical horsepower equals exactly 745.699872 watts, as defined by NIST. If your figure is a motor’s electrical rating, see the kW to kVA converter, which accounts for power factor.
The units it covers
Every unit here measures real (true) power, so each converts through the kilowatt with a fixed ratio.
View all units & their values
| Unit | Symbol | Value | Mainly used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kilowatt | kW | 1 | SI unit — motors, generators |
| Watt | W | 0.001 | Small loads, appliances |
| Megawatt | MW | 1000 | Power plants, the grid |
| Horsepower (mechanical) | hp | 0.7457 | Engines, US/UK machinery |
| Horsepower (metric) | PS | 0.7355 | European engine ratings |
| Horsepower (electric) | hp(E) | 0.746 | US electric-motor labels |
| Brake horsepower | bhp | 0.7457 | Engine output at the shaft |
The formula
Each unit has a fixed value in kilowatts, so converting between any two means going through the kilowatt once:
result = value × factor_from ÷ factor_toWhere:
- value = the number you typed, in the “from” unit
- factor_from = the “from” unit’s value in kilowatts
- factor_to = the “to” unit’s value in kilowatts
Worked example
Convert 100 kW to mechanical horsepower.
1 hp = 0.745699872 kW100 ÷ 0.745699872 = 134.102 hpSo a 100 kW motor produces about 134 mechanical horsepower.
The units in this example
The SI unit of power — one thousand watts. Standard for motor, generator and appliance ratings across most of the world.
- 1 kW = 1,000 watts (W)
- 1 kW ≈ 1.341 hp (mechanical)
- 1 kW ≈ 1.360 PS (metric)
- 1 MW = 1,000 kW
The imperial unit of power, defined as exactly 745.699872 watts and still used for engines and machinery in the US and UK.
- 1 hp = 745.7 watts (W)
- 1 hp ≈ 0.7457 kW
- 1 hp ≈ 1.014 PS (metric)
- 1 hp = 550 ft·lb/s