Power Converter
Convert kilowatts to horsepower (and metric PS), watts, megawatts, BTU/h and tons of refrigeration — engines, motors, heaters and air-conditioners. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One kilowatt is 1.341 horsepower (mechanical) — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the power converter works
Power converts through the watt. Mechanical horsepower is 550 ft·lbf/s = 745.6999 W; metric horsepower (PS, used in European car specs) is 735.4988 W. Air-conditioner capacities are quoted in kW, BTU/h (1 W = 3.412 BTU/h) or tons of refrigeration (3.517 kW).
Australia is fully metric under the National Measurement Act 1960; imperial units appear only in trade with the US and in older documents.
Common power conversions
| From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | 1.341 hp | kilowatt to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 1 hp | 0.7457 kW | horsepower (mechanical) to kilowatts |
| 100 kW | 134.1022 hp | kilowatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 300 hp | 223.71 kW | horsepower (mechanical) to kilowatts |
| 1 PS | 0.7355 kW | metric horsepower (PS) to kilowatts |
| 1 TR | 3.5169 kW | ton of refrigeration to kilowatts |
| 12,000 BTU/h | 3.5169 kW | BTU per hour to kilowatts |
| 1 MW | 1,341.0221 hp | megawatt to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 2.5 kW | 8,530.3541 BTU/h | kilowatts to BTU per hour |
| 150 kW | 203.9432 PS | kilowatts to metric horsepower (PS) |
Units in this converter and their exact factors
| Unit | Symbol | One unit in watts |
|---|---|---|
| watt | W | 1 watt |
| kilowatt | kW | 1,000 watt |
| megawatt | MW | 1,000,000 watt |
| horsepower (mechanical) | hp | 745.6998715823 watt |
| metric horsepower (PS) | PS | 735.49875 watt |
| BTU per hour | BTU/h | 0.29307107 watt |
| ton of refrigeration | TR | 3,516.8528421 watt |
FAQFrequently asked questions about power conversion
How many horsepower is a kilowatt?
1.341 mechanical hp, or 1.360 metric PS.
What is the difference between hp and PS?
PS (Pferdestärke) is 735.5 W; mechanical hp is 745.7 W — about 1.4% more. Car makers in Europe quote PS, in the US hp, in Australia kW.
How many BTU/h is a 2.5 kW air-conditioner?
About 8,530 BTU/h. A 12,000 BTU/h unit is 3.5 kW — one ton of refrigeration.
How many watts are in a megawatt?
One million watts (1,000 kW).
Is kW the same as kWh?
No — kW is power (a rate), kWh is energy (power × time). A 2 kW heater running for 3 hours uses 6 kWh.
Where these figures come from
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure, 9th edition) — definitions of the base and derived units.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units — the exact conversion factors used here.
- National Measurement Institute (NMI) — Australia's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.