Convert Kilowatts (kW) to Horsepower (electric) (hp(E))

Q: How do you convert kW to hp?

Multiply kW by 1.341. This uses electric (mechanical) horsepower: 1 hp = 746 W exactly, so 1 kW = 1000/746 = 1.34048 hp. Examples: 1 kW = 1.34 hp, 5 kW = 6.71 hp, 10 kW = 13.41 hp, 100 kW = 134.1 hp. For metric horsepower, multiply by 1.3596 instead.

Q: What is the difference between electric and metric horsepower?

Electric (mechanical) horsepower = 746 watts exactly. Metric horsepower = 735.49875 watts (75 kgf·m/s). Electric hp is standard in the US and UK. Metric hp (PS in German, CV in French/Spanish) is used in continental Europe and Japan. The difference is about 1.4%, which matters for precision motor specifications.

Q: How many kW is a 1 hp motor?

A 1 hp electric motor produces 0.746 kW (746 watts) of mechanical output. However, due to motor efficiency (typically 75-95%), the electrical input will be higher — a 1 hp motor at 85% efficiency draws about 0.878 kW (878 watts) from the power supply.

Q: Why is horsepower still used instead of kW?

Horsepower persists due to marketing tradition and regulatory inertia. In the US automotive market, "300 hp" sounds more powerful than "224 kW" to consumers. NEMA motor standards, building codes, and EPA regulations still reference horsepower. The EU mandated kW as the primary power unit for vehicles in 2010 but allows hp as supplementary.

1 kilowatt equals 1.34048 horsepower (electric).

Formula: hp(E) = kW × 1.34048

Kilowatt to Horsepower (electric) Converter

What Is a Kilowatt?

The kilowatt (kW) equals 1,000 watts. It is the standard metric power unit for motors, appliances, and electric vehicles.

What Is a Horsepower (Electric)?

The electric horsepower (hp) equals exactly 746 watts. It is used for rating electric motors in the US and some international markets.

Kilowatt to Horsepower (Electric) Formula

The conversion formula is:

hp = kilowatts × 1.34102

Derived from: 1 hp = 746 W, so 1 kW = 1000/746 ≈ 1.34102 hp.

Worked Example

Convert 100 kilowatt (100 kW electric motor):

Calculate: 100 → 134.1 horsepower (electric)

Common Use Cases

The kW-to-hp conversion bridges metric and imperial power specifications:

Electric vehicle specifications: EVs are rated in kW internationally (Tesla Model 3: 239 kW rear motor) but advertised in hp for the US market (321 hp). Understanding the conversion helps compare vehicles across markets and specifications.
Industrial motor selection: NEMA motor sizes are specified in hp (1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 hp) while IEC standards use kW. A 7.5 kW IEC motor corresponds to a 10 hp NEMA motor — close but not exact, requiring careful matching.
HVAC system sizing: Air conditioning compressor power is rated in both units. A residential AC compressor at 2.2 kW is approximately 3 hp. Oversizing or undersizing due to conversion errors can affect efficiency and equipment lifespan.
Marine engines: Boat motor power is commonly expressed in horsepower in the US but kilowatts in Europe and Australia. A 150 hp outboard motor is 112 kW — important for compliance with regional registration and licensing requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you convert kW to hp?

Multiply kW by 1.341. This uses electric (mechanical) horsepower: 1 hp = 746 W exactly, so 1 kW = 1000/746 = 1.34048 hp. Examples: 1 kW = 1.34 hp, 5 kW = 6.71 hp, 10 kW = 13.41 hp, 100 kW = 134.1 hp. For metric horsepower, multiply by 1.3596 instead.

What is the difference between electric and metric horsepower?

Electric (mechanical) horsepower = 746 watts exactly. Metric horsepower = 735.49875 watts (75 kgf·m/s). Electric hp is standard in the US and UK. Metric hp (PS in German, CV in French/Spanish) is used in continental Europe and Japan. The difference is about 1.4%, which matters for precision motor specifications.

How many kW is a 1 hp motor?

A 1 hp electric motor produces 0.746 kW (746 watts) of mechanical output. However, due to motor efficiency (typically 75-95%), the electrical input will be higher — a 1 hp motor at 85% efficiency draws about 0.878 kW (878 watts) from the power supply.

Why is horsepower still used instead of kW?

Horsepower persists due to marketing tradition and regulatory inertia. In the US automotive market, "300 hp" sounds more powerful than "224 kW" to consumers. NEMA motor standards, building codes, and EPA regulations still reference horsepower. The EU mandated kW as the primary power unit for vehicles in 2010 but allows hp as supplementary.

Common Kilowatt to Horsepower (electric) Conversions

Kilowatt to Horsepower (electric) (Part 1)

Kilowatt	Horsepower (electric)	Actions
1 kilowatt	1.34048 horsepower (electric)
2 kilowatts	2.68097 horsepower (electric)
3 kilowatts	4.02145 horsepower (electric)
5 kilowatts	6.70241 horsepower (electric)

Kilowatt to Horsepower (electric) (Part 2)

Kilowatt	Horsepower (electric)	Actions
10 kilowatts	13.4048 horsepower (electric)
25 kilowatts	33.5121 horsepower (electric)
50 kilowatts	67.0241 horsepower (electric)
100 kilowatts	134.048 horsepower (electric)

Kilowatts to horsepower (electric) Conversion Table

Reference table with common kilowatts to horsepower (electric) conversions. All values calculated with high precision.

Kilowatts to Horsepower (electric) Table
0.0001 to 12

Kilowatts	Horsepower (electric)	Actions
0.0001 kW	0.000134048 hp(E)
0.00025 kW	0.000335121 hp(E)
0.0005 kW	0.000670241 hp(E)
0.001 kW	0.00134048 hp(E)
0.0025 kW	0.00335121 hp(E)
0.005 kW	0.00670241 hp(E)
0.01 kW	0.0134048 hp(E)
0.025 kW	0.0335121 hp(E)
0.05 kW	0.0670241 hp(E)
0.1 kW	0.134048 hp(E)
14 kW	0.335121 hp(E)
12 kW	0.670241 hp(E)

Kilowatts to Horsepower (electric) Table
1 to 100000

Kilowatts	Horsepower (electric)	Actions
1 kW	1.34048 hp(E)
2 12 kW	3.35121 hp(E)
5 kW	6.70241 hp(E)
10 kW	13.4048 hp(E)
25 kW	33.5121 hp(E)
50 kW	67.0241 hp(E)
100 kW	134.048 hp(E)
250 kW	335.121 hp(E)
500 kW	670.241 hp(E)
1000 kW	1340.48 hp(E)
2500 kW	3351.21 hp(E)
5000 kW	6702.41 hp(E)
10000 kW	13404.8 hp(E)
25000 kW	33512.1 hp(E)
50000 kW	67024.1 hp(E)
100000 kW	134048 hp(E)

Horsepower (electric) to Kilowatts Table
0.001 to 5

Horsepower (electric)	Kilowatts	Actions
0.001 hp(E)	0.000746 kW
0.0025 hp(E)	0.001865 kW
0.005 hp(E)	0.00373 kW
0.01 hp(E)	0.00746 kW
0.025 hp(E)	0.01865 kW
0.05 hp(E)	0.0373 kW
0.1 hp(E)	0.0746 kW
14 hp(E)	0.1865 kW
12 hp(E)	0.373 kW
1 hp(E)	0.746 kW
2 12 hp(E)	1.865 kW
5 hp(E)	3.73 kW

Horsepower (electric) to Kilowatts Table
10 to 1000000

Horsepower (electric)	Kilowatts	Actions
10 hp(E)	7.46 kW
25 hp(E)	18.65 kW
50 hp(E)	37.3 kW
100 hp(E)	74.6 kW
250 hp(E)	186.5 kW
500 hp(E)	373 kW
1000 hp(E)	746 kW
2500 hp(E)	1865 kW
5000 hp(E)	3730 kW
10000 hp(E)	7460 kW
25000 hp(E)	18650 kW
50000 hp(E)	37300 kW
100000 hp(E)	74600 kW
250000 hp(E)	186500 kW
500000 hp(E)	373000 kW
1000000 hp(E)	746000 kW

Looking for the reverse? Convert Horsepower (electric) to Kilowatt

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Conversion factors verified against NIST, BIPM, ISO 80000-4 Based on SI base units (W = J/s, BIPM). Last reviewed: April 2026

By Adilson Fernandes

Reviewed by Tiago Fernandes

All unit conversions on CoolConversion use conversion factors defined or documented by internationally recognised standards bodies (such as ISO and NIST), including both SI and non-SI units.