About the kW to HP
This kW to HP converter turns power in kilowatts into horsepower. Because "horsepower" means slightly different things in different places, it shows all three common versions at once: mechanical (imperial) horsepower used in the US and UK, metric horsepower (PS in Germany, CV in France and Italy, pk in the Netherlands), and the electrical horsepower used on motor nameplates.
Car buyers use it to compare an EU spec sheet that lists kW with a US review quoting hp, electric-vehicle owners use it to understand motor ratings, and engineers use it for pumps, generators and outboard engines. Choose a different starting unit to convert horsepower or PS back to kilowatts.
One mechanical horsepower is about 745.7 W, one metric horsepower is exactly 735.49875 W, and one electrical horsepower is exactly 746 W. Brake horsepower (bhp) is measured at the crankshaft but uses the same mechanical-horsepower unit, so kW to bhp uses the same factor.
With the default inputs, the mechanical horsepower is 134.1 hp. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the kw to hp
- 1Enter the power figure.
- 2Choose the unit it is in — kilowatts by default.
- 3Read mechanical horsepower as the main result.
- 4Use PS for European car specs and hp(E) for electric motors.
Formula and method
Mechanical horsepower is defined as 550 foot-pounds-force per second, which works out to 745.69987 W. Dividing the power in watts by that figure gives horsepower, so 1 kW ≈ 1.34102 hp. Metric horsepower (PS) is defined as 75 kilogram-force metres per second, exactly 735.49875 W, so 1 kW ≈ 1.35962 PS.
Electrical horsepower, used for electric motor ratings, is defined as exactly 746 W. The tool converts any input to watts first, then into each unit.
- kW
- Kilowatts (1,000 W)
- hp
- Mechanical/imperial horsepower ≈ 745.7 W (also used for bhp)
- PS
- Metric horsepower = 735.49875 W (CV, pk)
- hp(E)
- Electrical horsepower = 746 W
Worked examples
100 kW car engine
100,000 W ÷ 745.7 = 134.1 hp. In metric horsepower it is 100,000 ÷ 735.49875 = 136.0 PS, which is why European brochures often quote "136 PS".
150 hp outboard motor in kW
150 × 745.7 W = 111,855 W, or 111.85 kW. The same power is 152.1 PS.
110 PS hatchback in hp
110 × 735.49875 W = 80,905 W (80.9 kW). Dividing by 745.7 gives 108.5 mechanical hp.
Frequently asked questions
How many hp is 1 kW?+
One kilowatt is 1.341 mechanical horsepower, or 1.360 metric horsepower (PS). Conversely, 1 hp is 0.7457 kW.
What is the difference between hp and PS?+
PS (Pferdestärke) is metric horsepower, 735.5 W, while mechanical hp is 745.7 W. PS figures are therefore about 1.4% higher for the same engine.
Is kW to bhp the same as kW to hp?+
Yes, the unit is the same. Brake horsepower just means the power was measured at the engine output shaft, before drivetrain losses, so use 1 kW = 1.341 bhp.
How do I convert kW to hp quickly?+
Multiply kilowatts by 1.34. For example, 150 kW × 1.34 ≈ 201 hp (the exact figure is 201.2 hp).
Why do electric cars list power in kW?+
Kilowatts are the SI unit of power and match how battery and charging figures are quoted. Many EU spec sheets list kW first and PS in brackets.