Power converter
Type a power, choose the units, and see the result plus the same power in every common unit. Mechanical horsepower and metric horsepower are different units, and this converter keeps them apart.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Type a number. A dot or a comma works as the decimal separator.
- Choose the unit you have and the unit you need. The ⇄ button swaps them.
- The table below shows the same power in all common units at once.
Conversion factors
Every unit is converted through the watt.
| Unit |
In watts |
| 1 kilowatt (kW) |
1,000 W |
| 1 megawatt (MW) |
1,000,000 W |
| 1 mechanical horsepower (hp) |
745.69987158 W |
| 1 metric horsepower (PS) |
735.49875 W |
| 1 BTU per hour (International Table) |
0.29307107 W |
| 1 foot-pound force per second |
1.3558179483 W |
Worked example
An engine rated 150 kW delivers 150 × 1,000 / 745.69987 = 201.15 mechanical hp, or 150 × 1,000 / 735.49875 = 203.94 PS. A 12,000 BTU/h air conditioner draws about 12,000 × 0.29307 = 3.52 kW of heat.
Quick reference
- 1 hp = 550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 0.7457 kW
- 1 PS ≈ 0.7355 kW ≈ 0.9863 hp
- 1 kW ≈ 1.341 hp ≈ 1.360 PS
- 1 kW ≈ 3,412 BTU/h
Frequently asked questions
How many watts are in a horsepower?
A mechanical (imperial) horsepower is 745.69987158 W, defined as 550 ft·lbf per second. A metric horsepower (PS, CV, cv) is 735.49875 W, defined as 75 kgf·m per second.
Why are there two kinds of horsepower?
Mechanical hp comes from foot-pounds and pounds, metric hp from kilogram-force and metres. They differ by about 1.4%, so 100 hp is about 101.4 PS.
How many kW is 100 hp?
100 mechanical hp is 74.57 kW. 100 metric hp (PS) is 73.55 kW. Car makers in Europe usually quote PS or kW, not mechanical hp.
How many BTU per hour is a kilowatt?
About 3,412.14 BTU/h, using the International Table BTU of 1,055.05585262 J. Air conditioners are often rated in BTU/h.
Is power the same as energy?
No. Power is the rate of using energy. One watt is one joule per second, so a 1 kW heater running for an hour uses 1 kWh of energy.