Megawatts to Horsepower Converter
Convert megawatts to mechanical horsepower — one megawatt is 1,341 hp. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One megawatt is 1,341.0221 horsepower (mechanical) — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the megawatts to horsepower 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).
The UK is metric for most trade and science but keeps miles, pints, stone and mpg (with the imperial gallon) in daily life.
Common power conversions
| From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1 MW | 134.1022 hp | megawatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 0.5 MW | 670.511 hp | megawatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 1 MW | 1,341.0221 hp | megawatt to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 2 MW | 2,682.0442 hp | megawatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 3 MW | 4,023.0663 hp | megawatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 5 MW | 6,705.1104 hp | megawatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 10 MW | 13,410.2209 hp | megawatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 20 MW | 26,820.4418 hp | megawatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 50 MW | 67,051.1045 hp | megawatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 100 MW | 134,102.209 hp | megawatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 500 MW | 670,511.0448 hp | megawatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
| 1,000 MW | 1,341,022.0896 hp | megawatts to horsepower (mechanical) |
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 in a megawatt?
1,341.02 hp.
What is a wind turbine?
Modern onshore turbines are 3 to 6 MW, which is 4,000 to 8,000 hp.
What is a locomotive?
A mainline diesel is around 3 MW, or 4,000 hp.
Why use megawatts for engines?
Marine and rail engineering does, because the same plant often drives generators. Road vehicles stayed with horsepower.
What is 1 MW in kW?
1,000 kW.
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 Physical Laboratory (NPL) — United Kingdom's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.