kW to hp converter
kW to hp in one step: 100 kW = 134.1 hp. Type the kilowatts and the horsepower appear while you type – or enter hp to get kW. The page also shows the metric PS value, because a car rated in PS and one rated in hp are not the same power.
Example: Power 100 · Direction: Kilowatts to horsepower (kW → hp) → Answer: 100 kW = 134.1 hp. Source: NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8 – horsepower (550 ft lbf/s) = 745.6999 W; horsepower (metric) = 735.49875 W. Updated: .
How it is calculated
How to convert kW to hp
hp = kW × 1.34102 (exactly: kW × 1000 ÷ 745.69987). For 100 kW: 100 × 1.34102 = 134.1 hp. The reverse is kW = hp × 0.7457: 100 hp × 0.7457 = 74.57 kW, and 300 hp is 223.71 kW.
In your head: kW × 1.34 for hp, or hp × 0.75 for kW. The rule of thumb 100 hp ≈ 75 kW is off by only 0.6 %.
Three kinds of horsepower
- Mechanical hp (SAE, used here): 1 hp = 745.69987 W – from 33,000 ft lbf per minute.
- Metric PS / cv (Europe, DIN 66036): 1 PS = 735.49875 W – from 75 kgf m/s. 100 kW = 135.96 PS.
- Electric hp (motors, US): defined as exactly 746 W.
The difference is why 110 kW is 147.51 hp but 149.56 PS: a car advertised with 150 PS in Europe has about 148 hp on a US spec sheet. Always ask which one is meant.
kW to hp chart
The chart in the results covers 1 to 500 kW. Useful anchor points: 55 kW = 73.756 hp, 75 kW = 100.58 hp, 110 kW = 147.51 hp, 150 kW = 201.15 hp, 220 kW = 295.02 hp. In the other direction: 150 hp = 111.85 kW, 200 hp = 149.14 kW, 400 hp = 298.28 kW.
Why electric cars use kW
Electric motors and chargers are rated in kilowatts because the watt is the SI unit of power. A 11 kW home charger delivers 14.751 hp worth of power to the battery – a fine comparison if you want to feel how slowly energy flows compared with an engine. The same unit applies to heaters and kettles: a 2 kW kettle is 2.682 hp.
For torque and the direction hp to kW, see the hp to kW converter.
Frequently asked questions
How many hp is 1 kW?
1 kW is 1.341 mechanical horsepower (1.3596 PS metric). For a quick estimate multiply by 1.34.
How do I convert kW to hp?
Multiply the kilowatts by 1.34102. Example: 100 kW × 1.34102 = 134.1 hp.
How do I convert hp to kW?
Multiply the horsepower by 0.7457. Example: 200 hp × 0.7457 = 149.14 kW.
Is 1 hp the same as 1 PS?
No. 1 hp is 745.7 W and 1 PS is 735.5 W, so 100 hp = 101.39 PS. The gap is about 1.4 %.
What is 110 kW in hp?
110 kW is 147.51 hp mechanical, or 149.56 PS metric – the usual 150 PS rating of European compact cars.
Sources and legal basis
- NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8 – horsepower (550 ft lbf/s) = 745.6999 W; horsepower (metric) = 735.49875 W
- BIPM – SI Brochure: watt (1 kW = 1000 W)
As of: · Editorial policy
Related tools
- HP to kW Converter: Horsepower, Kilowatts and TorqueConvert hp to kW and back, plus metric horsepower (PS), power from torque and rpm, and specific output per litre – exact NIST factors with the working shown.
- Watts to Amps Calculator: AC, Three-Phase and DCConvert watts to amps and amps to watts for 120 V, 240 V, three-phase and 12 V DC – with power factor, kVA, amp-hours and the next breaker size as a guide.
- EV charging cost calculatorWork out what charging your electric car costs at home and at a public charger – from battery size, state of charge, charging losses and your price per kWh.
- Energy ConverterEnergy converter for joules, kJ, MJ, Wh, kWh, calories, kcal, BTU and electronvolts, with conversion factor, comparison chart and appliance run time.
- Nm to ft lbs: torque converterConvert Nm to ft lbs, lbf·in, kgf·m, kgf·cm and more: all torque units at a glance, a chart for torque wrench settings and power from rpm. Free.
- kg to lbs converterConvert kg to lbs and back: 1 kg = 2.2046 lb. Shows pounds and ounces, stone and pounds, grams, tons and a kg to lbs chart – exact to the legal definition.
- ml to cups converterml to cups: divide by 236.59, so 250 ml = 1.0567 US cups. Convert milliliters to cups or cups to ml, with tablespoons, fluid ounces and a chart.
- Knitting increase calculatorKnitting increase calculator: spread increases or decreases evenly across a round or row and get the written pattern, e.g. 60 stitches plus 10 increases.
- Pool chlorine calculatorPool chlorine calculator: how much liquid chlorine, cal-hypo, dichlor or trichlor to raise free chlorine or shock your pool – with CDC target levels.