Power Converter
Enter a power value below to convert between Watts, kilowatts, horsepower, and BTU/h.
Convert Power
Enter a value and select the units to convert between kilowatts, horsepower (hp), and watts.
You can change the units using the dropdowns above or click on a unit button.
Common Power Reference Points
Here are some common power values in Kilowatt (kW), Horsepower (Mechanical) (hp), and Watt (W). Click any preset value or arrow to load it into the converter.
| Description | Kilowatt (kW) | Horsepower (Mechanical) (hp) | Watt (W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED household bulb (0.01 kW / 10 W) | 0.01 | 0.01341 | 10 |
| 1 Mechanical Horsepower (~0.7457 kW) | 0.7457 | 1 | 745.7 |
| 1 Kilowatt electrical power (1,000 W) | 1 | 1.34102 | 1,000 |
| 1 Ton of HVAC refrigeration (~3.517 kW) | 3.51685 | 4.71617 | 3,516.85 |
| Compact car engine (100 kW) | 100 | 134.10221 | 100,000 |
| Sports car output (300 kW) | 300 | 402.30663 | 300,000 |
Power Conversion Formulas
Use the following formulas to convert between kilowatts, horsepower (hp), and watts.
1 imperial mechanical horsepower (550 ft·lbf/s) equals 745.69987 Watts, while 1 metric PS equals 735.49875 Watts.
More Kilowatt & Horsepower Conversions
Convert from Kilowatts
Frequently Asked Questions
All Power Conversion Calculators (14)
Select any dedicated power pair below for worked examples and printable tables
Category Conversion Matrix
Simultaneous comparison of 17 units in this category
Power Unit Definitions & Symbols
Watt (W)
SICoherent SI unit of power equal to 1 Joule per second (1 J/s).
Kilowatt (kW)
METRICEqual to 1,000 Watts (1 kJ/s).
Megawatt (MW)
METRICEqual to 1,000,000 Watts (1,000 kW).
Gigawatt (GW)
SIEqual to 1,000,000,000 Watts (1,000 MW).
Terawatt (TW)
SIEqual to 10¹² Watts (1,000 GW).
Milliwatt (mW)
METRICOne-thousandth of a Watt.
Microwatt (µW)
METRICOne-millionth of a Watt.
Horsepower (Mechanical) (hp)
IMPERIALImperial mechanical horsepower (550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 745.7 W).
Horsepower (Metric PS) (PS)
METRICMetric horsepower (75 kgf·m/s = 735.49875 W).
BTU per Hour (BTU/hr)
IMPERIALHVAC thermal rate (1 W ≈ 3.41214 BTU/hr).
MBH (1,000 BTU/hr) (MBH)
US CUSTOMARYHVAC boiler/chiller rating equal to 1,000 BTU per hour (293.07 W).
Ton of Refrigeration (TR) (TR)
US CUSTOMARYHVAC cooling capacity equal to 12,000 BTU/hr or 3.51685 kW.
Volt-Ampere (VA) (VA)
SIApparent electrical power unit (equivalent to 1 W at unity power factor).
Kilovolt-Ampere (kVA) (kVA)
SIEqual to 1,000 VA (equivalent to 1 kW at unity power factor).
Kilojoule per Hour (kJ/h)
METRICEqual to 0.27778 Watts.
Foot-pound per Second (ft·lbf/s)
IMPERIAL1/550 of a mechanical horsepower (1.35582 W).
Kilocalorie per Hour (kcal/h)
METRICThermal power unit equal to approx. 1.1622 Watts.
References
- [1]NIST SP 811 StandardNIST SP 811 (NIST SP 811 App. B.9 (Power & Radiant Flux))·Power Metrology Standards — Watt (W), Kilowatt (kW) & Megawatt (MW)
- [2]NIST CUU ReferenceNIST CUU (Derived SI Unit: Watt (W))·International Reference Specification for Power, Electrical & HVAC Output
- [3]BIPM TablesBIPM (SI Brochure (9th Ed.) — Power)·Official Power Conversion Factors & Rounding Rules