Power Converter
Convert watts, kilowatts, horsepower (metric & imperial), BTU/h and more.
The Power Converter switches between watts and its multiples (milliwatts to gigawatts), the two flavors of horsepower, and the thermal units used by heating and cooling equipment. It is the tool for comparing appliances, engines, heaters and generators across unit systems.
Horsepower exists in two incompatible versions: metric PS (735.5 W, used across Europe and in car specs) and imperial hp (745.7 W, used in the US and UK). A 150 PS engine is about 147.9 hp — close but not identical, and mixing them up distorts comparisons by roughly 1.4%. Air conditioners add a third wrinkle, rated in BTU per hour (about 0.293 W each) in the US.
Electrical units are exact (1 kW = 1,000 W), conversions run locally in your browser, and the rate line always shows the relationship, such as 1 hp = 0.7457 kW.
Result
1 kW = 1.3410220896 hp
1 kW = 1.3410220896 hp
1 hp = 0.745699871582 kW
How to use the Power Converter
- Type the power value.
- Choose the from-unit (W, kW, MW, hp, PS, BTU/h…).
- Choose the to-unit.
- Read the result and the unit rate.
- Swap to compare the same rating in another system.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert kilowatts to horsepower?
Multiply kW by 1.341 to get imperial hp (1 kW = 1.341 hp) or by 1.360 to get metric PS (1 kW = 1.36 PS). A 100 kW motor is about 134 hp or 136 PS.
What is the difference between hp and PS?
Both mean 'horsepower', but imperial hp = 745.7 W while metric PS = 735.5 W — a 1.4% difference. European car specs use PS (or kW); US and UK specs use hp. The converter keeps both so cross-market comparisons stay honest.
How do I convert BTU/h to watts?
Divide BTU per hour by 3.412: 12,000 BTU/h ÷ 3.412 = 3,517 W, or about 3.5 kW. US air conditioners and furnaces are rated in BTU/h; electricity in watts — this conversion is what 'how much power does my AC draw' questions need.
Related tools
View all unit converters →Length Converter
Convert between metric and imperial lengths: mm to inches, km to miles and more.
ConvertersWeight Converter
Convert kilograms, pounds, ounces, grams, stones and tons instantly.
ConvertersHeight Converter
Height in cm, meters or feet & inches — with the feet-inches split done for you.
ConvertersTemperature Converter
Convert Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin and Rankine with one click.
ConvertersArea Converter
Convert square meters, square feet, acres, hectares and more.
ConvertersVolume Converter
Convert liters, gallons (US & UK), cups, cubic feet, barrels and more.