Convert a power rating between electrical and mechanical units for engines and appliances.
Try an example
Load a ready-made sample into this tool and run it. Every result you see is calculated live by the tool itself — nothing here is a pre-written answer.
Sample: value: 1; from: kW; to: hp
How to Use
- Enter a power value.
- Choose the current unit and the target unit.
- Read the converted power.
What this power converter does
This power converter converts power ratings between watts, kilowatts, megawatts, and horsepower. Enter a rating, choose the unit it is quoted in and the unit you need, and read the converted value. Power figures appear on appliances, motors, engines, and generators, and datasheets from different industries and countries state them in different units, which makes a direct converter the quickest way to compare two machines fairly.
The relationships behind the conversion
The metric steps are simple multiples: 1 kilowatt is 1,000 watts and 1 megawatt is 1,000 kilowatts. Horsepower is the older mechanical unit, defined here as 745.7 watts. That single factor is what lets an engine advertised in horsepower be compared with an electric motor rated in kilowatts, two figures that otherwise look unrelated even when the machines perform similarly.
Good to know
Horsepower in this converter uses the mechanical definition, 1 hp equals 745.7 W. Metric horsepower is a slightly different unit and is not used here, so figures converted from sources quoting metric horsepower may differ by a small amount from the originals.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert horsepower to kilowatts?
Enter the horsepower figure and convert from horsepower to kilowatts. The tool multiplies by 745.7 to get watts and expresses the result in kilowatts, using the mechanical horsepower definition throughout.
How many watts are in a kilowatt?
Exactly 1,000. The same step applies again from kilowatts to megawatts. Converting a rating of 2.5 kilowatts therefore gives 2,500 watts, which the tool shows without any rounding surprises.
Why does my converted horsepower look slightly off?
Your source may quote metric horsepower, which is a little smaller than the mechanical horsepower used here at 745.7 watts. The difference is under two percent, but it shows up in precise comparisons.
How to use Power Converter
- Enter a power value.
- Choose the current unit and the target unit.
- Read the converted power.
Limitations
Horsepower uses the mechanical definition (1 hp = 745.7 W); metric horsepower differs slightly and is not used.