Horsepower to Kilowatts
Convert horsepower to kilowatt instantly — type a value and read the result, with the exact formula shown.
Example
1 hp = 0.7456999 kW, 5 hp = 3.728499 kW, 10 hp = 7.456999 kW.
How it works
Kilowatt = Horsepower × 0.7456999. Every value is converted through a single watt base unit using internationally defined conversion factors, so any from/to pair stays consistent.
Good to know
Converting horsepower to kilowatts is something you do constantly when comparing car and motorcycle specs across markets, because manufacturers in Europe, Japan, and most of the world publish engine output in kilowatts, while spec sheets and marketing in the US, UK, and the classic-car world still lead with horsepower. The same conversion shows up when sizing generators, electric motors, pumps, and outboard engines, where a machine rated in hp must be matched to electrical supply or a kW-rated drive.
The two units come from different worlds. Horsepower is an 18th-century unit James Watt coined to sell steam engines against draft horses, and the version used here is mechanical (imperial) horsepower, defined as 33,000 foot-pounds per minute, which equals 745.6999 watts. The kilowatt is the clean SI metric unit, 1,000 watts. So this is really a bridge between an old imperial benchmark and the modern metric standard. Note that metric horsepower (PS/CV), common on older European cars, is slightly different at 735.5 W, so it does not use this exact factor.
A handy rule of thumb: drop about a quarter and you are close. One hp is roughly 0.75 kW, so to go from hp to kW multiply by three-quarters; for a quick mental estimate, 100 hp is about 75 kW and 200 hp is about 150 kW. Going the other way, multiply kW by about 1.34.
The most common mistake is mixing up the horsepower definitions. If you convert a metric-horsepower figure with the imperial factor you will be off by roughly 1.4 percent, enough to misstate a 200 hp engine by about 3 kW. Also remember that rounding compounds: 0.7457 is fine for everyday use, but for back-converting or summing many values, carry the full 0.7456999 to avoid drift.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert horsepower to kilowatt?
Multiply the number of horsepowers by 0.7456999 to get kilowatts. For example, 1 hp = 0.7456999 kW.
What is 1 horsepower in kilowatts?
1 horsepower equals 0.7456999 kilowatts (1 hp = 0.7456999 kW).
How many horsepowers are in 1 kilowatt?
There are 1.341022 horsepowers in 1 kilowatt.
Is this converter free and private?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser, so your inputs never leave your device, there is no sign-up, and it works offline once loaded.
Are the conversions exact?
Conversions use internationally defined factors and are exact where the definitions are exact (for example, 1 inch = 2.54 cm). Displayed results are rounded for readability.
People also ask
How many kW is 200 hp?
200 hp equals about 149.14 kW (200 × 0.7456999). For a quick estimate, three-quarters of 200 is 150 kW.
Is 1 kW the same as 1.36 hp?
Not for imperial horsepower. 1 kW equals 1.341 imperial hp. The 1.36 figure applies to metric horsepower (PS), which is defined slightly differently at 735.5 watts.
What is the difference between metric horsepower and the horsepower used here?
This converter uses mechanical (imperial) horsepower, defined as 745.6999 watts. Metric horsepower, often labeled PS or CV on European cars, equals 735.49875 watts, so it is about 1.4 percent smaller.
How do I convert a car's kW rating to horsepower quickly?
Multiply the kW figure by 1.341 to get imperial hp. For a fast mental shortcut, add roughly one-third: a 100 kW engine is about 134 hp.
How many kW is 150 hp?
150 hp equals about 111.85 kW (150 × 0.7456999), which rounds to roughly 112 kW.
Why do European car specs use kW instead of horsepower?
The kilowatt is the official SI metric unit for power and is the legal standard in the EU, so manufacturers publish kW for type approval. Horsepower is often shown alongside it for buyers who still think in those terms.
What is 100 hp in kW?
100 hp equals 74.57 kW (100 × 0.7456999). The simple rule of thumb of taking three-quarters gives 75 kW, very close to the exact value.
Does engine horsepower convert directly to electrical kilowatts?
Yes, both are units of power and 1 hp always equals 0.7456999 kW. Just be aware that a motor's input electrical power can exceed its rated mechanical output because of efficiency losses.
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