How the conversion works
1 kW ÷ 0.745699871582 = 1.34102209 hp. The quick answer is rounded for readability; use the live calculator below for another value or more precision.
kW to Horsepower Converter
Convert kilowatts to mechanical horsepower with a quick 1 kW reference while keeping metric PS separate.
Quick reference
1.34102209 hp
1 kW → mechanical hp
When this is useful
Use this conversion when a specification, drawing, label or calculation expresses the same physical quantity in kW and mechanical hp. The live parent converter keeps the source, target and broader equivalent-unit context together.
Quick comparison table
Compare the current answer with nearby or reverse values from the same converter family. Open any row to keep the units preselected and change the number.
| Conversion | Answer | Open |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW → mechanical hp | 1.34102209 hp | Current |
| 1 mechanical hp → kW | 0.745699872 kW | View → |
Which horsepower a kilowatt figure becomes
1 kW is 1.341 mechanical horsepower (hp) but 1.360 metric horsepower (PS, CV or ch). The two "horsepowers" differ by 1.4%, so a 100 kW engine is sold as 134 hp in the US and as 136 PS in much of Europe.
| Kilowatts | Mechanical hp | Metric PS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | 1.34 hp | 1.36 PS |
| 7.5 kW | 10.06 hp | 10.20 PS |
| 75 kW | 100.58 hp | 101.97 PS |
| 100 kW | 134.10 hp | 135.96 PS |
| 150 kW | 201.15 hp | 203.94 PS |
- EU vehicle registration certificates give engine power in kilowatts (field P.2), so the hp or PS number in a car advert is a conversion of that kW value.
- A 7.5 kW electric motor is 10.06 hp, which is why catalogues list 7.5 kW and 10 hp motors as equivalent ratings.
- Kilowatts measure power, while the kilowatt-hours on an electric car battery measure stored energy. A 75 kWh battery says nothing about horsepower.
- Mechanical hp is defined as 550 foot-pounds-force per second (745.7 W); metric PS is 75 kilogram-force metres per second (735.5 W).
Multiply kW by 4/3 for a quick hp figure: 100 kW × 4/3 = 133.3 hp, 0.6% under the exact 134.1 hp.
Convert another value
Editable live calculator
Change any input — the result updates immediately
No hidden assumptions. Inputs, units and the working stay visible so you can check the calculation.
Calculated result
1.341022 hp
Conversion factor: 1 kW = 1.34102209 hp
Same value in every supported unit
Watt
1,000 W
Milliwatt
1,000,000 mW
Kilowatt
1 kW
Megawatt
0.001 MW
Gigawatt
0.000001 GW
Mechanical horsepower
1.341022 hp
Metric horsepower
1.359622 PS
BTU per hour (IT)
3,412.141633 BTU/h
Kilocalorie per hour
860.42065 kcal/h
Ton of refrigeration
0.284345 TR
Foot-pound force per second
737.562149 ft·lbf/s
Show the working
- 1. Convert 1 kW to the W base: 1 × 1,000 = 1,000 W.
- 2. Convert from W to hp: 1,000 ÷ 745.69987158 = 1.341022 hp.
- 3. Direct factor check: 1 × 1.34102209 = 1.341022 hp.
This is a unit conversion, not an electrical sizing calculation. Mechanical horsepower (hp) and metric horsepower (PS) are intentionally separate units.
More actions
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A quick note before you use the number
Power-unit conversion does not calculate electrical current, apparent power, efficiency or power factor. Use the dedicated electrical calculators for those relationships.
Open the full Power Unit Converter — W, kW, MW, HP, PS, BTU/h & Refrigeration Tons