The mechanical horsepower
Mechanical (imperial) horsepower is defined as exactly 550 ft·lbf/s, or approximately 745.7 W. It is the standard 'horsepower' in the US and is the unit most often quoted for American cars and motorcycles.
Mechanical horsepower to Kilowatts Converter
1 hp = 0.7457 kW
1 mechanical horsepower equals 0.7457 kilowatts. To convert mechanical horsepower to kilowatts, multiply the mechanical horsepower value by 0.7457. For quick reference: 1 hp = 0.7457 kW, 5 hp = 3.7285 kW, 10 hp = 7.457 kW, 100 hp = 74.57 kW.
Formula
Kilowatts = Mechanical horsepower × 0.7457Quick
How to convert mechanical horsepower to kilowatts
Take your value
Start with your value in mechanical horsepower.
Multiply by 0.7457
Multiply the mechanical horsepower value by 0.7457. This is the exact conversion factor from mechanical horsepower to kilowatts.
Read the result
The product is your value in kilowatts. For example, 5 hp × 0.7457 = 3.7285 kW.
Conversion formula
The exact factor from mechanical horsepower to kilowatts is 0.7457.
Kilowatts = Mechanical horsepower × 0.7457
Mechanical horsepower to Kilowatts conversion table
Fifty common reference values, hand-picked for skim utility. Use the calculator above for any value not listed.
| Mechanical horsepower (hp) | Kilowatts (kW) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 hp | 0.07457 kW |
| 0.5 hp | 0.37285 kW |
| 1 hp | 0.7457 kW |
| 2 hp | 1.4914 kW |
| 5 hp | 3.7285 kW |
| 8 hp | 5.9656 kW |
| 10 hp | 7.457 kW |
| 15 hp | 11.185 kW |
| 20 hp | 14.914 kW |
| 25 hp | 18.642 kW |
| 30 hp | 22.371 kW |
| 40 hp | 29.828 kW |
| 50 hp | 37.285 kW |
| 60 hp | 44.742 kW |
| 75 hp | 55.927 kW |
| 100 hp | 74.57 kW |
| 125 hp | 93.212 kW |
| 150 hp | 111.85 kW |
| 200 hp | 149.14 kW |
| 250 hp | 186.42 kW |
| 300 hp | 223.71 kW |
| 400 hp | 298.28 kW |
| 500 hp | 372.85 kW |
| 600 hp | 447.42 kW |
| 750 hp | 559.27 kW |
| 800 hp | 596.56 kW |
| 1000 hp | 745.7 kW |
| 1200 hp | 894.84 kW |
| 1500 hp | 1118.5 kW |
| 1800 hp | 1342.3 kW |
| 2000 hp | 1491.4 kW |
| 2500 hp | 1864.2 kW |
| 3000 hp | 2237.1 kW |
| 5000 hp | 3728.5 kW |
| 7500 hp | 5592.7 kW |
| 10000 hp | 7457 kW |
| 15000 hp | 11185 kW |
| 20000 hp | 14914 kW |
| 25000 hp | 18642 kW |
| 50000 hp | 37285 kW |
| 75000 hp | 55927 kW |
| 100000 hp | 74570 kW |
| 200000 hp | 149140 kW |
| 500000 hp | 372850 kW |
| 1000000 hp | 745700 kW |
| 2000000 hp | 1491400 kW |
| 5000000 hp | 3728499 kW |
| 10000000 hp | 7456999 kW |
| 100000000 hp | 74569987 kW |
| 1000000000 hp | 745699872 kW |
Real-world reference
A modern compact car produces 130–200 hp. A standard human can sustain about 0.1 hp indefinitely. In kilowatts, that gives you: 1 hp = 0.7457 kW, 10 hp = 7.457 kW, 100 hp = 74.57 kW.
Frequently asked questions
- How many kilowatts are in 1 mechanical horsepower?
- 1 mechanical horsepower equals 0.7457 kilowatts.
- How do I convert mechanical horsepower to kilowatts?
- Multiply the mechanical horsepower value by 0.7457. So x hp × 0.7457 = the equivalent in kW.
- What is 5 mechanical horsepower in kilowatts?
- 5 mechanical horsepower equals 3.7285 kilowatts.
- What is 10 mechanical horsepower in kilowatts?
- 10 mechanical horsepower equals 7.457 kilowatts.
- What is 100 mechanical horsepower in kilowatts?
- 100 mechanical horsepower equals 74.57 kilowatts.
- How do I convert back from kilowatts to mechanical horsepower?
- Multiply the kilowatt value by 1.34102. For example, 1 kW = 1.34102 hp.
- Is the mechanical horsepower bigger than the kilowatt?
- No. 1 mechanical horsepower is smaller than 1 kilowatt. It takes 1.34102 mechanical horsepower to equal 1 kilowatt.
- Are these conversion factors exact?
- Yes. Since the 1959 international yard and pound agreement, imperial/US units are defined exactly in terms of metric units, so the factor used here (0.7457) is exact within IEEE 754 double precision.
About the mechanical horsepower and the kilowatt
The kilowatt
The kilowatt (kW) equals exactly 1,000 watts. It is the unit on EV motor ratings, household solar arrays, and most modern automotive horsepower equivalents outside the US.