Unit converter
Mechanical Horsepower to Kilowatts Converter
Work out kilowatts from mechanical horsepower in one move. One mechanical horsepower equals about 0.7457 kilowatts (precisely 0.7456998715822702 kW), so a figure in hp is multiplied by that factor to reach kW. Enter any horsepower value and the tool shows the kilowatt equivalent, with a reference table for common engine and motor ratings. The conversion is the everyday currency of vehicle power: comparing an American car quoted in hp with a European spec sheet in kW, sizing an electric motor against a petrol engine it replaces, or reading a boat or generator rating across the two systems.
1 mechanical horsepower = 0.7457 kilowatts
Common mechanical horsepower to kilowatts values
| Mechanical horsepower | Kilowatts |
|---|---|
| 1 hp | 0.7457 kW |
| 2 hp | 1.4914 kW |
| 5 hp | 3.7285 kW |
| 10 hp | 7.457 kW |
| 20 hp | 14.914 kW |
| 50 hp | 37.285 kW |
| 100 hp | 74.57 kW |
How to convert
- Take the power figure in mechanical horsepower.
- Multiply by 0.7457, the kilowatts in one mechanical horsepower.
- The answer is that same power stated in kilowatts.
- To reverse it, divide a kilowatt figure by 0.7457 to recover horsepower.
- For a rough check, three quarters of the hp number lands close to the kW value, so 100 hp is near 75 kW.
kilowatts = horsepower x 0.7457
Mechanical horsepower is defined as 550 foot-pounds of work per second, which equals 0.7456998715822702 kilowatts. Multiplying an hp figure by that constant converts it to kW, and dividing reverses the step. The factor is fixed, so the sum is a single multiplication.
- hp
- the power in mechanical horsepower
- 0.7457
- kilowatts in one mechanical horsepower
Worked example
A hatchback rated at 120 hp is 120 multiplied by 0.7457, which is about 89.5 kW. A larger 200 hp engine works out at roughly 149.1 kW once the same factor is applied.
Key facts
- One mechanical horsepower is 0.7457 kW; one kilowatt is about 1.341 hp.
- A common family car of 110 hp produces close to 82 kW.
- A high-performance 500 hp sports car puts out roughly 373 kW.
- A 1 kW domestic motor is equivalent to about 1.34 horsepower.
Tips
- Keep the full factor in your working and round only the final kW figure, since power numbers feed into tax and insurance bands.
- When matching an electric motor to a petrol engine, compare kilowatts directly rather than mixing hp and kW.
Frequently asked questions
How many kW is 1 hp?+
One mechanical horsepower is about 0.7457 kilowatts, defined exactly as 0.7456998715822702 kW. It is a little under three quarters of a kilowatt.
Is this the same as metric horsepower (PS)?+
No. Metric horsepower, written PS or CV, is about 0.7355 kW, slightly smaller than the mechanical horsepower used here. A spec sheet usually states which one it means.
How do I convert 150 hp to kW?+
Multiply 150 by 0.7457 to get roughly 111.9 kW.
Why do car makers quote both?+
Kilowatts are the legal metric unit on European documents, while horsepower remains the figure many buyers recognise, so brochures often print the pair side by side.
Things to watch
- Do not treat mechanical horsepower and metric horsepower (PS) as interchangeable; the gap of about 1.4 percent shifts the kilowatt result.
Sources
Last updated: 2026-01-01
Conversions use internationally defined factors. Provided for general use; verify critical measurements independently.