kW to hp Converter (Kilowatts to Horsepower)
Convert kilowatts to horsepower for car engines, electric motors and generators. 1 kW = 1.34102 hp (mechanical horsepower), so 100 kW is 134.1 hp. European specs often quote metric PS instead: 1 kW = 1.35962 PS.
Real-World Benchmarks
Multi-Unit Conversion Matrix
| Group | Measurement | Symbol | Equivalent Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| SI & Metric | Milliwatt | mW | 1.0000E8 |
| SI & Metric | Watt | W | 100,000 |
| SI & Metric | Kilowatt | kW | 100 |
| SI & Metric | Megawatt | MW | 0.1 |
| Horsepower | Mechanical Horsepower | hp | 134.1022 |
| Horsepower | Metric Horsepower (PS) | PS | 135.9622 |
| Horsepower | Electrical Horsepower | hp(E) | 134.0483 |
| Thermal & Imperial | BTU per Hour | BTU/h | 341,214.1633 |
| Thermal & Imperial | Foot-Pound per Second | ft·lbf/s | 73,756.2149 |
| Thermal & Imperial | Kilocalorie per Hour | kcal/h | 85,984.5228 |
| Thermal & Imperial | Ton of Refrigeration | TR | 28.4345 |
Step-by-Step Mathematical Explanation
- Step 1: Convert 100 kW to the base unit (W): 100 × 1,000 = 100,000 W.
- Step 2: Convert base watts to mechanical horsepower: 100,000 ÷ 745.699871582 = 134.102209 hp.
- Direct factor: 1 kW = 1.34102209 hp.
Essential Conversion Factors
Kilowatt: Engines, EV motors and appliances
kW to hp formula
Direct Answer: 1 kW = 1.3410221 hp, so multiply by 1.3410221: hp = kW × 1.3410221. Going back: kW = hp × 0.74569987.
How to convert kilowatts to mechanical horsepower
Mechanical (imperial) horsepower is 550 foot-pounds per second, which is 745.69987 W. Dividing watts by that, or multiplying kilowatts by 1.34102, gives hp. The metric horsepower (PS, CV, ch) is 735.49875 W, about 1.4% smaller, which is why the same engine shows a higher PS figure than hp.
1. kW → hp
Multiply the number of kilowatts by the conversion factor:
Example: 100 kW × 1.3410221 = 134.1 hp.
2. hp → kW
To go back, divide by the same factor, or multiply by its reciprocal, 0.74569987:
Example: 134.1 hp ÷ 1.3410221 = 100 kW.
Mental math: add a third
Add a third of the kilowatts. The estimate is about 0.6% low:
90 kW: 90 + 30 = 120 hp (exact: 120.69 hp).
1 kW in other power units
| Unit | 1 kW equals | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Milliwatt | 1,000,000 mW | Lasers and radio transmitters |
| Watt | 1,000 W | SI unit of power (1 J/s) |
| Megawatt | 0.001 MW | Power plants and wind turbines |
| Mechanical Horsepower | 1.3410221 hp | US & UK imperial horsepower (550 ft·lbf/s) |
| Metric Horsepower (PS) | 1.3596216 PS | European car ratings — PS, CV, pk |
| Electrical Horsepower | 1.3404826 hp(E) | Electric motor nameplates (746 W) |
| BTU per Hour | 3,412.1416 BTU/h | Air conditioners and furnaces |
| Foot-Pound per Second | 737.56215 ft·lbf/s | Imperial mechanical power |
| Kilocalorie per Hour | 859.84523 kcal/h | Heating and metabolic rate |
| Ton of Refrigeration | 0.28434514 TR | Chiller and HVAC capacity (12,000 BTU/h) |
kW to hp chart
| kW | hp |
|---|---|
| 0.37 | 0.5 |
| 0.75 | 1.01 |
| 1 | 1.34 |
| 1.5 | 2.01 |
| 2.2 | 2.95 |
| 3 | 4.02 |
| 4 | 5.36 |
| 5 | 6.71 |
| 7.5 | 10.06 |
| 10 | 13.41 |
| 11 | 14.75 |
| 15 | 20.12 |
| 20 | 26.82 |
| 25 | 33.53 |
| 30 | 40.23 |
| 40 | 53.64 |
| 50 | 67.05 |
| 55 | 73.76 |
| 60 | 80.46 |
| 75 | 100.58 |
| 80 | 107.28 |
| 90 | 120.69 |
| 100 | 134.1 |
| 110 | 147.51 |
| 120 | 160.92 |
| 150 | 201.15 |
| 200 | 268.2 |
| 250 | 335.26 |
| 300 | 402.31 |
| 400 | 536.41 |
| 500 | 670.51 |
hp to kW chart
| hp | kW |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.37 |
| 1 | 0.75 |
| 2 | 1.49 |
| 3 | 2.24 |
| 5 | 3.73 |
| 7.5 | 5.59 |
| 10 | 7.46 |
| 15 | 11.19 |
| 20 | 14.91 |
| 25 | 18.64 |
| 50 | 37.28 |
| 75 | 55.93 |
| 100 | 74.57 |
| 120 | 89.48 |
| 150 | 111.85 |
| 180 | 134.23 |
| 200 | 149.14 |
| 250 | 186.42 |
| 300 | 223.71 |
| 350 | 260.99 |
| 400 | 298.28 |
| 450 | 335.56 |
| 500 | 372.85 |
| 600 | 447.42 |
| 700 | 521.99 |
| 1,000 | 745.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 75 kW in hp?
75 kW is 100.58 hp (75 × 1.3410221).
What is 150 kW in hp?
150 kW is 201.15 hp (150 × 1.3410221).
What is the difference between hp and PS?
hp (mechanical horsepower) is 745.7 W; PS (metric horsepower, also CV or ch) is 735.5 W. 100 kW is 134.1 hp but 136.0 PS. EU registration documents list kW; brochures often list PS.
How many hp is a 3 kW electric motor?
3 kW × 1.34102 = 4.02 hp. Motor nameplates rate output (shaft) power, so input power from the supply is higher by the motor's efficiency.