Kilowatts to horsepower (kW to hp) converter

What is a kilowatts to horsepower converter?

A kilowatts to horsepower converter is an online tool that translates an amount of power expressed in kilowatts (kW) into the equivalent number of horsepower (hp), and the other way around. The kilowatt is the standard metric (SI) unit of power, while horsepower is a traditional unit that is still widely quoted for engines, motors, and machinery. Because both units describe the same physical quantity, the rate at which energy is produced or consumed, a converter lets you move between specification sheets, advertisements, and technical documents that use different conventions.

Kilowatts and horsepower

A watt is one joule of energy per second, and a kilowatt equals 1,000 watts. Horsepower comes in several flavors, but the value most commonly used for engines and this converter is the mechanical (imperial) horsepower, defined as exactly 745.699872 watts. As a result, one kilowatt is a little more than one and one-third horsepower. Car manufacturers in metric markets often list engine output in kilowatts, while markets that use horsepower list the same engine in hp, so converting between the two is a frequent task for buyers and engineers alike.

How does the converter work?

You enter a value in either field and the tool instantly fills in the other. To go from kilowatts to horsepower, the converter multiplies the kilowatt value by the number of horsepower in one kilowatt (about 1.34102). To go the other way, it multiplies the horsepower value by the number of kilowatts in one horsepower (about 0.745700). Each field also lets you switch units, so you can work with watts (W) or megawatts (MW) when that is more convenient.

Formula for conversion

To convert kilowatts to mechanical horsepower:

$\text{hp} = \text{kW} \times \frac{1000}{745.699872} = \text{kW} \times 1.34102$

To convert horsepower to kilowatts:

$\text{kW} = \text{hp} \times \frac{745.699872}{1000} = \text{hp} \times 0.745700$

Conversion table

The following table lists common kilowatt values together with their horsepower equivalents, and common horsepower values with their kilowatt equivalents.

Examples

Example 1: One kilowatt to horsepower

Convert 1 kW to mechanical horsepower using the factor 1.34102:

$1 \text{ kW} \times 1.34102 = 1.34102 \text{ hp}$

So a single kilowatt is about 1.34 horsepower.

Example 2: One horsepower to kilowatts

Convert 1 hp back to kilowatts using the factor 0.745700:

$1 \text{ hp} \times 0.745700 = 0.74570 \text{ kW}$

One horsepower is therefore roughly three quarters of a kilowatt.

Example 3: A 100 kW engine

A car engine rated at 100 kW is advertised in horsepower in another market. Convert it:

$100 \text{ kW} \times 1.34102 = 134.102 \text{ hp}$

The 100 kW engine produces about 134 hp.

Example 4: A 500 kW industrial motor

For a larger 500 kW industrial motor:

$500 \text{ kW} \times 1.34102 = 670.511 \text{ hp}$

That motor delivers roughly 671 horsepower.

Notes

• This converter uses mechanical (imperial) horsepower, defined as 745.699872 W. Metric horsepower (PS) is slightly smaller at about 735.5 W, so values from German or French spec sheets may differ by roughly 1.4%.
• Power and energy are not the same: a kilowatt is a rate (energy per unit time), whereas a kilowatt-hour is an amount of energy. Do not convert kW directly into kWh.
• Keep your units consistent throughout a calculation to avoid errors, and round only at the final step for the most accurate result.

Frequently asked questions

How many horsepower are in 1 kilowatt?

One kilowatt equals about 1.34102 mechanical horsepower. Multiply any kilowatt value by 1.34102 to get horsepower.

How many kilowatts are in 1 horsepower?

One mechanical horsepower equals about 0.745700 kilowatts. Multiply any horsepower value by 0.745700 to get kilowatts.

How do I convert 100 kW to hp?

Multiply 100 by 1.34102, which gives 134.102 horsepower. A 100 kW engine is therefore about 134 hp.

Is mechanical horsepower the same as metric horsepower?

No. Mechanical (imperial) horsepower is 745.699872 W, while metric horsepower (also written PS or CV) is about 735.5 W. This converter uses mechanical horsepower, so figures based on metric horsepower will be slightly higher.

Can I convert watts or megawatts as well?

Yes. Each field lets you choose watts (W), kilowatts (kW), or megawatts (MW), so you can mix and match units without doing the scaling by hand.

Why might my conversion look slightly off?

Small differences usually come from the horsepower definition being used (mechanical versus metric) or from rounding. For exact results, keep extra decimal places until the final answer.