Converters
Power Converter
Convert watts, kilowatts, horsepower, and BTU per hour.
Free to use — no sign-up or login.
Power is energy per time. One mechanical horsepower is 745.6998715822702 W and displays as 0.7457 kW. Metric horsepower (PS) is 735.49875 W, a smaller unit.
Joules and kilowatt-hours are on the energy converter. A kilowatt-hour is not a kilowatt.
Two horsepower definitions
Mechanical horsepower is the larger one. Metric PS is 735.49875 W. Pick the label that matches the spec sheet, because the two differ by about 1.4 percent.
BTU per hour
The list includes BTU per hour at 0.2930710701722222 W. That is a power, the IT BTU spread over one hour.
Worked example: 1 mechanical horsepower
From mechanical horsepower to kilowatts, 1 hp displays as 0.7457 kW. One metric PS is 735.49875 W, which is not the same number.
\[ 1\,\mathrm{hp}=745.6998715822702\,\mathrm{W} \]
Frequently asked questions
How many kilowatts is 1 hp?
0.7457 kW for mechanical horsepower.
What is metric horsepower?
PS, 735.49875 W. It is smaller than mechanical horsepower.
Is a kilowatt-hour a power?
No. A kilowatt-hour is energy. A kilowatt is power.
Which horsepower should I pick?
The one printed on the spec. Mechanical hp and PS are both in the list.
Does this convert torque?
No. Torque is not in the unit list.
References
Assumptions and limitations
Mechanical horsepower and metric PS are separate rows. Results use six significant digits. Torque and electrical horsepower variants are not included.