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kW to HP Converter

Convert kilowatts to horsepower as you type, with the exact formula, a chart from 1 to 1,000 kW and the context behind the kW figures on EV and European spec sheets.

kW
Switch to hp to kW
Updated September 2026By 0-60calc TeamSources
0-60CALC.COMEstimated result slip
Conversion
InputWaiting for input
Horsepower
---hp

Press Calculate to print your slip

1 hp = 745.7 W exactly by definition, so 1 kW = 1.341 hp.

Got the horsepower? See the 0-60 time it gives

On this page

How to convert kW to hp

One mechanical horsepower is defined as 33,000 foot-pounds of work per minute, which is 745.7 watts. Divide 1,000 watts by that and you get the factor every spec sheet uses: one kilowatt is 1.341 horsepower.

Exact formula

hp = kW × 1.34102

Mental shortcut

hp ≈ kW × 4 ÷ 3

1 kW
1.34102 hp (mechanical)
1 kW
1.35962 PS (metric horsepower)
1 hp
0.74570 kW, or 745.7 W
Electrical hp
746 W exactly, used on some motor nameplates

Worked example: a 150 kW electric motor × 1.34102 = 201.2 hp. With the shortcut, 150 × 4 ÷ 3 = 200 hp, which is less than 1% out and close enough to compare two spec sheets.

kW to hp chart (1 to 1,000 kW)

From small electric motors to hypercars. The small sizes (1.1, 1.5, 2.2, 7.5, 18.5 kW and so on) are the standard ratings electric motors are sold in, which is why they are searched so often.

Dual scale showing kilowatt values above their horsepower equivalents from 0 to 600 kW
Read across: every kW value (top) sits above its horsepower equivalent (bottom).
kW to hp conversion chart
kWhpPSTypical use
1 kW1.3 hp1.4 PSMowers, generators and small motors
1.1 kW1.5 hp1.5 PSStandard electric motor size
1.5 kW2.0 hp2.0 PSStandard electric motor size
2.2 kW3.0 hp3.0 PSStandard electric motor size
3 kW4.0 hp4.1 PSStandard electric motor size
4 kW5.4 hp5.4 PSStandard electric motor size
5 kW6.7 hp6.8 PSMowers, generators and small motors
5.5 kW7.4 hp7.5 PSStandard electric motor size
7.5 kW10.1 hp10.2 PSStandard electric motor size
10 kW13.4 hp13.6 PSMowers, generators and small motors
11 kW14.8 hp15.0 PSEU A1 motorcycle licence limit
15 kW20.1 hp20.4 PSStandard electric motor size
18.5 kW24.8 hp25.2 PSStandard electric motor size
22 kW29.5 hp29.9 PSStandard electric motor size
30 kW40.2 hp40.8 PSStandard electric motor size
35 kW46.9 hp47.6 PSEU A2 motorcycle licence limit
37 kW49.6 hp50.3 PSStandard electric motor size
45 kW60.3 hp61.2 PSStandard electric motor size
50 kW67.1 hp68.0 PSCity cars and mid-size motorcycles
55 kW73.8 hp74.8 PSStandard electric motor size
75 kW100.6 hp102.0 PSStandard electric motor size
90 kW120.7 hp122.4 PSStandard electric motor size
100 kW134.1 hp136.0 PSCompact and family cars
110 kW147.5 hp149.6 PSCompact and family cars
125 kW167.6 hp170.0 PSCompact and family cars
150 kW201.2 hp203.9 PSFamily sedans, SUVs and single-motor EVs
175 kW234.7 hp237.9 PSFamily sedans, SUVs and single-motor EVs
200 kW268.2 hp271.9 PSPickups, sports cars and dual-motor EVs
225 kW301.7 hp305.9 PSPickups, sports cars and dual-motor EVs
250 kW335.3 hp339.9 PSPickups, sports cars and dual-motor EVs
300 kW402.3 hp407.9 PSPerformance cars and V8 muscle cars
350 kW469.4 hp475.9 PSPerformance cars and V8 muscle cars
400 kW536.4 hp543.8 PSPerformance cars and V8 muscle cars
450 kW603.5 hp611.8 PSSupercars
500 kW670.5 hp679.8 PSSupercars
600 kW804.6 hp815.8 PSSupercars
750 kW1,005.8 hp1,019.7 PSHypercars
1,000 kW1,341.0 hp1,359.6 PSHypercars

EV and electric motor ratings in kW

Electric cars are where most drivers meet kilowatts. Manufacturers outside the US quote motor power in kW, and even US buyers see kW on chargers and battery specs. Three things are worth knowing before you convert.

Peak, not continuous

The kW figure on an EV spec sheet is normally peak power, available for a short burst. The motor's continuous rating is lower, which is why an EV can feel strongest in the first few seconds.

Motors don't simply add up

A dual-motor EV's system output is often less than the two motor ratings added together, because the battery can only supply so much power at once.

Charger kW is not motor kW

A 250 kW fast charger describes how quickly energy flows into the battery. It says nothing about how powerful the car is.

kWh is energy

Battery capacity is in kilowatt-hours, a store of energy. A 75 kWh battery could deliver 150 kW for half an hour, in theory, not "75 horsepower".

To see what a given power figure means for acceleration, enter it in the 0-60 calculator along with the car's weight, or compare cars fairly with the power-to-weight ratio calculator.

kW vs PS vs bhp on spec sheets

The same engine can be quoted in four different ways depending on where the brochure was printed. They are all the same power, just in different units or measured in different places.

Power units on car spec sheets
UnitEquals150 kW isWhere you see it
kWkilowatt, the SI unit1,000 W150 kWOfficial figure in Europe, Japan, Australia and on EVs everywhere
hpmechanical horsepower745.7 W201.2 hpUS and Canadian spec sheets
PS, CV, chmetric horsepower735.5 W203.9 PSGerman, Italian and French brochures, often next to kW
bhpbrake horsepower745.7 W201.2 bhpUK magazines; measured at the crank, same unit as hp

Wheel horsepower (whp) is different: it's measured at the tires on a dyno, after the gearbox and axles have taken their cut, so it reads lower than any of the figures above. The whp to hp calculator converts between the two, and WHP vs BHP vs HP explains why they differ.

Where kW limits matter

Some licensing rules are written in kilowatts, so converting accurately can decide which vehicle you are allowed to ride or drive. Always check the current rules with your licensing authority.

Licence power limits in kW and hp
RuleLimitIn hp
EU A1 motorcycle licenceAustrian government summary of the EU rules11 kW and 0.1 kW/kg14.8 hp
EU A2 motorcycle licenceSame source35 kW and 0.2 kW/kg46.9 hp
NSW (Australia) P1 and P2 driversNSW Government130 kW per tonne of tare mass174.3 hp per tonne

Sources and method

One mechanical horsepower is 745.69987 W, so 1 kW = 1.34102 hp; metric horsepower (PS) is 735.49875 W. Nothing on this page is estimated.

Updated September 2026. Built and checked by the 0-60calc Team. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will check it against the source.

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Questions people ask

How do I convert kW to hp?

Multiply the kilowatts by 1.341. For example, 100 kW × 1.341 = 134.1 hp. For a quick estimate in your head, multiply by 4 and divide by 3.

How many horsepower is 1 kW?

One kilowatt is 1.341 mechanical horsepower, or 1.360 metric horsepower (PS). One horsepower is 0.7457 kW.

Is kW to bhp the same as kW to hp?

Yes. Brake horsepower (bhp) is horsepower measured at the crankshaft, so it uses the same unit and the same factor: 1 kW = 1.341 bhp.

Why does a European spec sheet show more PS than hp?

PS, or metric horsepower, is 1.4% smaller than a mechanical horsepower, so the same power is a slightly bigger number in PS. 150 kW is 204 PS but 201 hp.

How many hp is a 150 kW electric motor?

About 201 hp. Electric motor ratings are usually peak figures that the motor can deliver for a short time, so its continuous output is lower.

Is a 250 kW charger the same as 250 kW of motor power?

No. Charger kW measures how fast energy goes into the battery, and motor kW measures how fast the car can use it. Battery size in kWh is stored energy, not power.