Horsepower to kW converter
Type a number in any box. 1 hp is 0.7457 kW, and 1 kW is 1.341 hp.
The formula
kW = hp × 0.7457 and hp = kW × 1.341. Car makers in Europe, Asia and Africa quote kilowatts on official documents, while US brochures use horsepower, so the same engine is often listed as "110 kW" in one place and "148 hp" in another.
Horsepower to kW table
| hp | kW | PS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hp | 0.7 kW | 1 PS |
| 5 hp | 3.7 kW | 5.1 PS |
| 10 hp | 7.5 kW | 10.1 PS |
| 50 hp | 37.3 kW | 50.7 PS |
| 75 hp | 55.9 kW | 76 PS |
| 100 hp | 74.6 kW | 101.4 PS |
| 150 hp | 111.9 kW | 152.1 PS |
| 200 hp | 149.1 kW | 202.8 PS |
| 250 hp | 186.4 kW | 253.5 PS |
| 300 hp | 223.7 kW | 304.2 PS |
| 400 hp | 298.3 kW | 405.5 PS |
| 500 hp | 372.8 kW | 506.9 PS |
| 600 hp | 447.4 kW | 608.3 PS |
| 700 hp | 522 kW | 709.7 PS |
| 800 hp | 596.6 kW | 811.1 PS |
| 1,000 hp | 745.7 kW | 1,013.9 PS |
kW to horsepower table
| kW | hp | PS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | 1.3 hp | 1.4 PS |
| 5 kW | 6.7 hp | 6.8 PS |
| 10 kW | 13.4 hp | 13.6 PS |
| 37 kW | 49.6 hp | 50.3 PS |
| 50 kW | 67.1 hp | 68 PS |
| 55 kW | 73.8 hp | 74.8 PS |
| 75 kW | 100.6 hp | 102 PS |
| 90 kW | 120.7 hp | 122.4 PS |
| 100 kW | 134.1 hp | 136 PS |
| 110 kW | 147.5 hp | 149.6 PS |
| 150 kW | 201.2 hp | 203.9 PS |
| 200 kW | 268.2 hp | 271.9 PS |
| 250 kW | 335.3 hp | 339.9 PS |
| 300 kW | 402.3 hp | 407.9 PS |
| 400 kW | 536.4 hp | 543.8 PS |
| 500 kW | 670.5 hp | 679.8 PS |
Real engines, both ways
The most powerful petrol or diesel version of each car registered in Europe in 2025, from official type-approval figures.
| Car | Engine | kW | hp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Swift | 1.2 litre petrol | 61 kW | 82 hp |
| Volkswagen Golf | 2.0 litre petrol | 245 kW | 329 hp |
| Toyota Corolla | 2.0 litre petrol | 113 kW | 152 hp |
| Hyundai Tucson | 1.6 litre petrol | 132 kW | 177 hp |
| Ford Ranger | 3.0 litre petrol | 215 kW | 288 hp |
| BMW 3 Series | 3.0 litre petrol | 405 kW | 543 hp |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 2.0 litre diesel | 195 kW | 261 hp |
| Toyota Land Cruiser | 4.0 litre petrol | 199 kW | 267 hp |
| Ram 1500 | 6.2 litre petrol | 523 kW | 701 hp |
Brake, shaft and wheel horsepower
The prefix tells you where the power was measured, not a different unit. Brake horsepower is measured at the crankshaft with an engine dynamometer (historically a "brake"), and it's what car makers advertise. Shaft horsepower is measured at an output shaft, a term used mostly for ships, helicopters and turboprops. Wheel horsepower is what reaches the road, typically 10–20% below brake horsepower because the gearbox, driveshafts and tyres absorb some of it.
Questions
How many kW is 1 hp?
One mechanical horsepower is 0.7457 kW, so multiply horsepower by 0.7457 to get kilowatts. 100 hp is 74.6 kW.
How many hp is 1 kW?
One kilowatt is 1.341 hp, so multiply kilowatts by 1.341. A 100 kW engine makes 134.1 hp.
Is bhp the same as hp?
For cars, yes in practice. Brake horsepower (bhp) is power measured at the engine's crankshaft, and it uses the same unit as mechanical horsepower, so 1 bhp = 0.7457 kW. Wheel horsepower, measured on a rolling road, is lower because the gearbox and tyres take some power.
What is the difference between hp and PS?
PS (Pferdestärke, also written CV or pk) is metric horsepower. 1 PS = 0.7355 kW, about 1.4% less than 1 hp. European brochures often quote PS, so a "150 PS" engine is 148 hp or 110 kW.
How many watts is 1 horsepower?
745.7 watts. Metric horsepower (PS) is 735.5 watts.
What is shaft horsepower?
Shaft horsepower is power delivered to an output shaft, such as a ship's propeller shaft or a turboprop's gearbox. It uses the same unit as horsepower; the name just says where it was measured.