Power Converter
Convert engine and appliance power between watts, kilowatts and horsepower. There are two common kinds of horsepower, and the converter lists both so it is always clear which one you are using.
kilowatts
1 hp = 0.7457 kW
Popular power conversions
Units in this converter
| Unit | Symbol | Equals (in watts) |
|---|---|---|
| Watt | W | 1 W |
| Kilowatt | kW | 1,000 W |
| Mechanical horsepower (hp) | hp | 745.699871582 W |
| Metric horsepower (PS) | PS | 735.49875 W |
Which horsepower?
Mechanical horsepower (hp), used in the US and the UK, is 550 foot-pounds-force per second, about 745.7 W.
Metric horsepower (PS in German, pk in Dutch, CV in French, Italian and Spanish) is 75 kilogram-force meters per second, exactly 735.49875 W.
Pages on this site that say “hp” use mechanical horsepower. Choose “Metric horsepower (PS)” in the converter for European ratings.
About the units
- Watt (W)
- The watt is the SI unit of power: one joule per second. Light bulbs, appliances and chargers are rated in watts.
- Kilowatt (kW)
- A kilowatt is 1,000 watts. Engine power in Europe, heat pumps, solar panels and EV chargers are rated in kilowatts.
- Mechanical horsepower (hp)
- Mechanical horsepower, also called imperial horsepower, is defined as 550 foot-pounds-force per second, about 745.7 watts. US and UK car engine ratings in "hp" or "bhp" use this definition.
- Metric horsepower (PS)
- Metric horsepower is defined as 75 kilogram-force meters per second, exactly 735.49875 watts. It is written PS in Germany, pk in the Netherlands and CV in France, Italy and Spain, and is about 1.4% smaller than mechanical horsepower.
Frequently asked questions
Is hp the same as PS?
Not quite. 1 PS is about 0.986 hp, so a car rated at 150 PS produces about 148 hp.