Power converter
Convert power between watts, kilowatts and both kinds of horsepower.
Fill in the fields and the result will appear here automatically.
Converts power between watts, kilowatts, megawatts, mechanical horsepower, metric horsepower and BTU per hour. Mechanical and metric horsepower are different units — this converter keeps them apart instead of averaging them.
How it works
Formula and logic
Every unit converts through the watt using defined factors.
Example
100 kW is about 136 metric horsepower, or about 134 mechanical horsepower.
Fields and units
- Power — in the selected source unit
- From unit — list option
- To unit — list option
How to use
- — Enter the value.
- — Pick the source unit.
- — Pick the target unit.
Method and limitations
- Calculation method
- Formula and logic
- Data or methodology source
- NIST: conversion-factor tables, Appendix B.9
- Limitation
- The result is a rounded unit conversion. Check the entered value and selected units.
FAQ
Why are there two kinds of horsepower?
Mechanical horsepower is 550 ft·lbf/s = 745.6999 W; metric horsepower is 75 kgf·m/s = 735.49875 W exactly. They differ by about 1.4%.
Which one do car specifications use?
Check the definition in the specification: mechanical hp and metric PS are different units. Country or language alone does not select one; kW can be converted to either explicitly.
What is BTU per hour used for?
Heating and air-conditioning capacity. One kilowatt is about 3412 BTU/h.
Is a kilowatt-hour a unit of power?
No, it is energy — power multiplied by time. Use the energy converter for kilowatt-hours.