kW to hp Converter
1 kW equals 1.3410 hp (mechanical horsepower, also called bhp) and 1.3596 PS (metric horsepower). Type a value in any box to convert kW to hp, hp to kW, or either of them to PS: the other boxes update as you type.
kW to hp conversion table
| kW | hp (bhp) | PS |
|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | 13.41 | 13.60 |
| 15 kW | 20.12 | 20.39 |
| 20 kW | 26.82 | 27.19 |
| 25 kW | 33.53 | 33.99 |
| 30 kW | 40.23 | 40.79 |
| 35 kW | 46.94 | 47.59 |
| 40 kW | 53.64 | 54.38 |
| 45 kW | 60.35 | 61.18 |
| 50 kW | 67.05 | 67.98 |
| 55 kW | 73.76 | 74.78 |
| 60 kW | 80.46 | 81.58 |
| 65 kW | 87.17 | 88.38 |
| 70 kW | 93.87 | 95.17 |
| 75 kW | 100.58 | 101.97 |
| 80 kW | 107.28 | 108.77 |
| 85 kW | 113.99 | 115.57 |
| 90 kW | 120.69 | 122.37 |
| 95 kW | 127.40 | 129.16 |
| 100 kW | 134.10 | 135.96 |
| 110 kW | 147.51 | 149.56 |
| 120 kW | 160.92 | 163.15 |
| 130 kW | 174.33 | 176.75 |
| 140 kW | 187.74 | 190.35 |
| 150 kW | 201.15 | 203.94 |
| 160 kW | 214.56 | 217.54 |
| 170 kW | 227.97 | 231.14 |
| 180 kW | 241.38 | 244.73 |
| 190 kW | 254.79 | 258.33 |
| 200 kW | 268.20 | 271.92 |
| 225 kW | 301.73 | 305.91 |
| 250 kW | 335.26 | 339.91 |
| 275 kW | 368.78 | 373.90 |
| 300 kW | 402.31 | 407.89 |
| 325 kW | 435.83 | 441.88 |
| 350 kW | 469.36 | 475.87 |
| 375 kW | 502.88 | 509.86 |
| 400 kW | 536.41 | 543.85 |
Useful information about the kW to hp converter
How to convert kW to hp
To convert kilowatts to horsepower, multiply the kW figure by 1.341. To get metric horsepower (PS), multiply by 1.3596. Going the other way, multiply horsepower by 0.7457 to get kW, or PS by 0.7355. The converter above does all of this at once and works in any direction: type in the kW, hp or PS box and the other two follow.
The two kinds of horsepower are close but not identical, which is why a car can be listed as 150 PS in one brochure and 148 hp in another. Both describe the same engine; only the unit changes.
The kW to hp formula
hp = kW × 1,000 ÷ 745.7 ≈ kW × 1.3410
PS = kW × 1,000 ÷ 735.5 ≈ kW × 1.3596
kW = hp × 0.7457 = PS × 0.7355
- kW: kilowatt, 1,000 watts, the SI unit of power
- hp: mechanical (imperial) horsepower, 550 foot-pounds per second, equal to 745.7 W
- PS: metric horsepower (Pferdestärke), 75 kilogram-force metres per second, equal to 735.5 W; the same unit is called CV in Italy and Spain and ch in France
Worked examples
- 100 kW to hp: 100 × 1.341 = 134.10 hp, or 135.96 PS.
- 150 PS to kW: 150 × 0.735499 = 110.32 kW, which is 147.95 hp.
- 300 hp to kW: 300 × 0.7457 = 223.71 kW, which is 304.16 PS.
- 1 hp to PS: 1 hp = 1.0139 PS, and 1 PS = 0.9863 hp. The difference is about 1.4%, so a 200 PS engine delivers 197.26 hp.
hp, bhp, whp and PS: what is the difference?
- hp is mechanical or imperial horsepower, 745.7 W. It is the standard way to state car power in the US and Canada.
- bhp (brake horsepower) is the same unit, measured at the engine's crankshaft before any losses in the gearbox and drivetrain. It is the figure most often quoted in UK car reviews and adverts, so for conversions bhp = hp.
- whp (wheel horsepower) is measured at the wheels on a rolling road, so it is always lower than the bhp of the same car. The gap depends on the drivetrain, so there is no fixed conversion.
- PS is metric horsepower, 735.5 W, used by many European car makers alongside kW.
kW or hp? How power is rated around the world
The kilowatt is the official unit of power in the SI system, so it appears on EU type-approval and registration documents, including in Ireland, while brochures often add the PS figure. In Australia car makers quote engine power in kW, together with torque in Nm. In the US and Canada horsepower is the norm, and in the UK you will see bhp and PS side by side. Electric cars are rated in kW almost everywhere: do not confuse the motor power in kW with the battery capacity in kWh, which measures energy, not power, and cannot be converted to horsepower.
hp to kW conversion table
| hp (bhp) | kW | PS |
|---|---|---|
| 50 hp | 37.28 | 50.69 |
| 60 hp | 44.74 | 60.83 |
| 70 hp | 52.20 | 70.97 |
| 80 hp | 59.66 | 81.11 |
| 90 hp | 67.11 | 91.25 |
| 100 hp | 74.57 | 101.39 |
| 110 hp | 82.03 | 111.53 |
| 120 hp | 89.48 | 121.66 |
| 130 hp | 96.94 | 131.80 |
| 140 hp | 104.40 | 141.94 |
| 150 hp | 111.85 | 152.08 |
| 160 hp | 119.31 | 162.22 |
| 170 hp | 126.77 | 172.36 |
| 180 hp | 134.23 | 182.50 |
| 190 hp | 141.68 | 192.64 |
| 200 hp | 149.14 | 202.77 |
| 225 hp | 167.78 | 228.12 |
| 250 hp | 186.42 | 253.47 |
| 275 hp | 205.07 | 278.81 |
| 300 hp | 223.71 | 304.16 |
| 325 hp | 242.35 | 329.51 |
| 350 hp | 260.99 | 354.85 |
| 375 hp | 279.64 | 380.20 |
| 400 hp | 298.28 | 405.55 |
| 425 hp | 316.92 | 430.89 |
| 450 hp | 335.56 | 456.24 |
| 475 hp | 354.21 | 481.59 |
| 500 hp | 372.85 | 506.93 |
Tips for comparing engine power
- Check the unit before comparing: a US spec sheet in hp and a European one in PS differ by about 1.4% for the same engine.
- Look at the engine speed: the published figure is peak power, reached only at a specific rpm. Torque and the power curve say more about everyday driving.
- Expect small rounding differences: makers round their figures, so 110 kW may appear as 147 hp, 148 hp or 150 PS depending on the source.
- Use kW for official paperwork in countries where documents, taxes or licence categories refer to kilowatts.
Frequently asked questions
How many hp is 1 kW?
1 kW is 1.3410 mechanical horsepower (hp or bhp) and 1.3596 metric horsepower (PS). The other way round, 1 hp is 0.7457 kW and 1 PS is 0.7355 kW.
How do I convert kW to hp?
Multiply the kilowatts by 1.341, or more precisely divide the watts by 745.7. For example 100 kW × 1.341 = 134.10 hp. To get metric horsepower (PS) multiply by 1.3596 instead: 100 kW = 135.96 PS.
How many kW is 100 hp?
100 mechanical horsepower is 74.57 kW. If the 100 is metric horsepower (PS, also written CV or ch), it is 73.55 kW.
Is bhp the same as hp?
They use the same unit, 745.7 watts. Brake horsepower (bhp) tells you the power was measured at the engine crankshaft, before losses in the gearbox and drivetrain, which is how car makers normally quote power. So 1 bhp = 0.7457 kW, exactly like 1 hp.
What is the difference between hp and PS?
hp (mechanical or imperial horsepower) is 745.7 W, while PS (metric horsepower) is 735.5 W, so 1 hp = 1.0139 PS and 1 PS = 0.9863 hp. The gap is about 1.4%: a car rated at 150 PS has 147.95 hp, and one rated at 200 PS has 197.26 hp.
Why are car engines rated in kW?
The kilowatt is the SI unit of power, so it is the official unit on EU type-approval and registration documents and the usual unit in Australian car specifications. Electric motors are rated in kW almost everywhere. Horsepower remains common in the US, Canada and the UK, and many European brochures quote PS next to kW.
