Kilowatt to Horsepower Converter
Converts kilowatt to horsepower (kW to hp) and back. The conversion factor is shown below every result.
How to Convert Kilowatt to Horsepower
What Is a Kilowatt?
The kilowatt (kW) is an SI unit of power equal to 1,000 watts.
What Is a Horsepower?
The mechanical horsepower (hp) is defined as exactly 550 foot-pounds-force per second, equal to 745.69987158227022 watts.
Common Kilowatt to Horsepower Reference Points
Real-world reference values for quick sanity checks.
| Item | Kilowatt (kW) | Horsepower (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| A typical family sedan engine (approx.) | 110 kW | 147.51 hp |
| A home generator (approx.) | 7 kW | 9.39 hp |
| Reference values are illustrative approximations for common items, not measured specifications. | ||
Kilowatt to Horsepower Conversion Table
| Kilowatt (kW) | Horsepower (hp) |
|---|---|
| 1 kW | 1.341022 hp |
| 5 kW | 6.70511 hp |
| 10 kW | 13.410221 hp |
| 25 kW | 33.525552 hp |
| 50 kW | 67.051104 hp |
| 75 kW | 100.576657 hp |
| 100 kW | 134.102209 hp |
| 110 kW | 147.51243 hp |
| 150 kW | 201.153313 hp |
| Source: NIST SP 811, Appendix B (1 hp = 745.69987158227022 W exactly) | |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert kilowatts to horsepower?
Multiply the kilowatt value by 1.3410220896. For example, 75 kW × 1.3410220896 = 100.577 hp.
Is this mechanical horsepower or metric horsepower?
This page uses mechanical horsepower (745.7 W), the standard used in US and UK vehicle and engine ratings. Metric horsepower (PS or CV, about 735.5 W) is slightly smaller and common on European vehicle spec sheets; the two will give slightly different results for the same kW figure.
How many kW is a typical car engine?
Passenger car engines commonly range from about 70 kW (roughly 94 hp) to over 300 kW (roughly 400 hp) for performance vehicles, though the exact figure varies enormously by model.
Related Power Converters
A good measuring tool marked in both kW and hp removes the guesswork at the point of use.