Unit converter
Kilowatts to Mechanical Horsepower Converter
Read kilowatts as mechanical horsepower in a single calculation. Because one mechanical horsepower is 0.7456998715822702 kW, one kilowatt works out at about 1.341 hp, so a kW figure is multiplied by 1.341 to reach horsepower. Enter any kilowatt rating and the tool returns the horsepower equivalent, with a table covering the values people look up most. It is the practical translation behind power figures on European paperwork: turning a car listed in kW into the hp number a buyer expects, sizing pumps and machinery, or comparing an electric motor rated in kilowatts against a combustion engine.
1 kilowatt = 1.341 mechanical horsepower
Common kilowatts to mechanical horsepower values
| Kilowatts | Mechanical horsepower |
|---|---|
| 1 kW | 1.341 hp |
| 2 kW | 2.682 hp |
| 5 kW | 6.7051 hp |
| 10 kW | 13.4102 hp |
| 20 kW | 26.8204 hp |
| 50 kW | 67.0511 hp |
| 100 kW | 134.1 hp |
How to convert
- Begin with the power in kilowatts.
- Multiply by 1.341, the mechanical horsepower in one kilowatt.
- The result is that power expressed in horsepower.
- To go back, divide an horsepower figure by 1.341 to return to kilowatts.
- For a quick estimate, add roughly a third to the kW number, so 90 kW is about 120 hp.
horsepower = kilowatts x 1.341
Since one mechanical horsepower is 0.7456998715822702 kW, its reciprocal of about 1.341 converts kilowatts to horsepower. Multiplying a kW figure by that constant gives hp, and dividing reverses it. The ratio is fixed, so the conversion is a single multiplication.
- kW
- the power in kilowatts
- 1.341
- mechanical horsepower in one kilowatt
Worked example
An estate car rated at 110 kW is 110 multiplied by 1.341, which is about 147.5 hp. A van pulling 150 kW comes out at roughly 201.2 hp using the same factor.
Key facts
- One kilowatt is about 1.341 hp; one mechanical horsepower is 0.7457 kW.
- An 85 kW family car produces roughly 114 hp.
- A 200 kW performance car is equivalent to about 268 hp.
- A 2.2 kW workshop motor delivers close to 3 horsepower.
Tips
- Carry the full factor through the sum and round only at the end, because power figures decide tax and insurance bands.
- When comparing two vehicles, convert both to the same unit first rather than judging a kW car against an hp rival by eye.
Frequently asked questions
How many hp is 1 kW?+
One kilowatt is about 1.341 mechanical horsepower, the reciprocal of 0.7457. So 1 kW is a touch over one and a third horsepower.
Does this give metric or mechanical horsepower?+
Mechanical horsepower, the unit common in British and American usage. Metric horsepower (PS) is slightly larger per kilowatt, at about 1.36 PS to the kW.
How do I convert 100 kW to hp?+
Multiply 100 by 1.341 to get roughly 134.1 hp.
Why is my car listed in kW?+
European registration and tax documents record engine power in kilowatts as the legal SI unit, even though marketing often repeats the horsepower figure too.
Things to watch
- Metric horsepower (PS) and mechanical horsepower differ by about 1.4 percent, so check which standard a quoted figure follows before relying on it.
Sources
Last updated: 2026-01-01
Conversions use internationally defined factors. Provided for general use; verify critical measurements independently.