Horsepower to kW Calculator
Convert horsepower (HP) to kilowatts (kW).
Horsepower to Kilowatt (HP to KW): Your Complete Guide
👋 Hey there, future power expert! Ready to understand how horsepower relates to kilowatts? Whether you’re working on a car engine, industrial machinery, or just curious about power conversions, I’ll guide you through everything you need to know. Let’s make this journey fun and simple! 🚀
Understanding Power Units: HP and KW
🐎 What is Horsepower (HP)?
Imagine a strong horse lifting coal out of a mine (that’s actually how this unit was created!). One horsepower represents that horse’s power output. In today’s terms:
- ✨ Imperial/Mechanical HP = 745.7 watts (commonly used in US/UK)
- ⚡ Electrical HP = 746 watts (used in electrical systems)
- 🌍 Metric HP = 735.5 watts (used in many European countries)
⚡ What is a Kilowatt (KW)?
Think of a kilowatt as 1000 light bulbs of 1 watt each! More technically:
- 💡 1 KW = 1000 watts
- ⏱️ 1 KW = 1000 joules per second
- 🔋 It’s the standard unit for measuring electrical power
Converting Horsepower to Kilowatts: Three Easy Methods
1. Imperial/Mechanical HP to KW 🔧
The Magic Formula:
P(kW) = 0.7457 × P(hp)
Let’s Try It! 📝
Converting 10 horsepower to kilowatts:
P(kW) = 0.7457 × 10 hp = 7.457 kW
🎯 Your 10 hp engine is equivalent to 7.457 kilowatts!
2. Electrical HP to KW ⚡
The Simple Formula:
P(kW) = 0.746 × P(hp)
Quick Example! ⚡
For a 10 hp electrical motor:
P(kW) = 0.746 × 10 hp = 7.46 kW
💡 Your electrical motor uses 7.46 kilowatts!
3. Metric HP to KW 🌍
European Standard Formula:
P(kW) = 0.7355 × P(hp)
Let’s Calculate! 🔢
For a 10 hp European machine:
P(kW) = 0.7355 × 10 hp = 7.355 kW
🎉 That’s 7.355 kilowatts in metric system!
Pro Tips for Accurate Conversions 💡
- 🔍 Always check which type of horsepower you’re working with (Imperial, Electrical, or Metric)
- 📊 Round your results to 3 decimal places for practical use
- 🏭 For industrial applications, consider using electrical horsepower (746 W)
- 🚗 For automotive applications, typically use mechanical horsepower (745.7 W)
- 📝 Keep a note of which system you’re using for future reference
Real-World Applications 🌟
🚗 Automotive
Car engines are often rated in HP, but many electric vehicles use KW. A typical family car might have 150 HP ≈ 111.855 KW
🏭 Industrial
Electric motors are commonly rated in both HP and KW. A 5 HP industrial motor = 3.73 KW
🏠 Home Appliances
While smaller appliances use watts (W), larger ones like AC units might use HP. A 1 HP air conditioner ≈ 0.746 KW
Electrical Horsepower to Kilowatt Conversion Table
This table provides the conversion from electrical horsepower to kilowatts (kW).
| Electrical Horsepower (hp) | Kilowatts (kW) |
|---|---|
| 1 hp | 0.7460 kW |
| 0.1 hp | 0.07460 kW |
| 0.5 hp | 0.3730 kW |
| 2 hp | 1.4920 kW |
| 5 hp | 3.7300 kW |
| 10 hp | 7.4600 kW |
| 15 hp | 11.1900 kW |
| 20 hp | 14.9200 kW |
| 25 hp | 18.6500 kW |
| 30 hp | 22.3800 kW |
| 40 hp | 29.9200 kW |
| 50 hp | 37.3000 kW |
| 75 hp | 55.2300 kW |
| 100 hp | 74.6000 kW |
Imperial/Mechanical Horsepower to Kilowatt Conversion Table
This table provides the conversion from imperial/mechanical horsepower to kilowatts (kW).
| Imperial/Mechanical Horsepower (hp) | Kilowatts (kW) |
|---|---|
| 1 hp | 0.7457 kW |
| 0.1 hp | 0.07457 kW |
| 0.5 hp | 0.373 kW |
| 2 hp | 1.491 kW |
| 5 hp | 3.735 kW |
| 10 hp | 7.460 kW |
| 15 hp | 11.185 kW |
| 20 hp | 14.913 kW |
| 25 hp | 18.641 kW |
| 30 hp | 22.368 kW |
| 40 hp | 29.832 kW |
| 50 hp | 37.296 kW |
| 75 hp | 55.215 kW |
| 100 hp | 74.576 kW |
Kilowatts to Horsepower Conversion Table
This table provides the conversion from kilowatts (kW) to different types of horsepower, including imperial/mechanical horsepower (hp(I)), electrical horsepower (hp(E)), and metric horsepower (hp(M)).
| Kilowatts (kW) | Imperial/Mechanical Horsepower (hp(I)) | Electrical Horsepower (hp(E)) | Metric Horsepower (hp(M)) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.001 kW | 0.001341 hp | 0.001340 hp | 0.001360 hp |
| 0.002 kW | 0.002682 hp | 0.002681 hp | 0.002719 hp |
| 0.003 kW | 0.004023 hp | 0.004021 hp | 0.004079 hp |
| 0.004 kW | 0.005364 hp | 0.005362 hp | 0.005438 hp |
| 0.005 kW | 0.006705 hp | 0.006702 hp | 0.006798 hp |
| 0.006 kW | 0.008046 hp | 0.008043 hp | 0.008158 hp |
| 0.007 kW | 0.009387 hp | 0.009383 hp | 0.009517 hp |
| 0.008 kW | 0.010728 hp | 0.010724 hp | 0.010877 hp |
| 0.009 kW | 0.012069 hp | 0.012064 hp | 0.012237 hp |
| 0.01 kW | 0.013410 hp | 0.013405 hp | 0.013596 hp |
| 0.02 kW | 0.026820 hp | 0.026810 hp | 0.027192 hp |
| 0.03 kW | 0.040231 hp | 0.040214 hp | 0.040789 hp |
| 0.04 kW | 0.053641 hp | 0.053619 hp | 0.054385 hp |
| 0.05 kW | 0.067051 hp | 0.067024 hp | 0.067981 hp |
| 0.06 kW | 0.080461 hp | 0.080429 hp | 0.081577 hp |
| 0.07 kW | 0.093872 hp | 0.093834 hp | 0.095173 hp |
| 0.08 kW | 0.107282 hp | 0.107239 hp | 0.108770 hp |
| 0.09 kW | 0.120692 hp | 0.120643 hp | 0.122366 hp |
| 0.1 kW | 0.134022 hp | 0.134048 hp | 0.135962 hp |
| 0.2 kW | 0.268204 hp | 0.268097 hp | 0.271924 hp |
| 0.3 kW | 0.402307 hp | 0.402145 hp | 0.407886 hp |
| 0.4 kW | 0.536409 hp | 0.536193 hp | 0.543848 hp |
| 0.5 kW | 0.670511 hp | 0.670241 hp | 0.679810 hp |
FAQs
Horsepower (HP) and Kilowatts (kW) are both units of power. One mechanical horsepower is equivalent to approximately 0.746 kilowatts.
💡 Important: There are different types of horsepower (mechanical, metric, electrical), but mechanical HP is most common.
To convert from HP to kW, multiply the HP value by 0.746:
Example calculations:
- 100 HP = 100 × 0.746 = 74.6 kW
- 50 HP = 50 × 0.746 = 37.3 kW
- 10 HP = 10 × 0.746 = 7.46 kW
🔍 For quick estimates, multiply HP by 3/4 (0.75).
Common equipment power ratings:
- Small Electric Motor (1 HP):1 HP = 0.746 kW
- Car Engine (150 HP):150 HP = 111.9 kW
- Industrial Pump (75 HP):75 HP = 55.95 kW
- Lawn Mower (5 HP):5 HP = 3.73 kW
Key factors to consider:
- Type of horsepower being used (mechanical, metric, electrical)
- Efficiency losses in power transmission
- Operating conditions and load factors
- Regional standards and requirements
- Equipment specifications and ratings
📝 Tip: Always specify which type of horsepower you’re working with.
Quick reference values:
- Common HP to kW conversions:
- 1 HP = 0.746 kW
- 5 HP = 3.73 kW
- 10 HP = 7.46 kW
- 25 HP = 18.65 kW
- 50 HP = 37.3 kW
- 100 HP = 74.6 kW
🎯 Use these standard values to check your calculations.
Common applications include:
- Automotive Industry:Engine Power: 200 HP = 149.2 kW
- Industrial Equipment:Motor Rating: 30 HP = 22.38 kW
- Power Generation:Generator Capacity: 500 HP = 373 kW
- Marine Applications:Boat Engine: 250 HP = 186.5 kW
💡 Modern equipment often lists both HP and kW ratings.
