kW to HP Calculator
Convert kilowatts to mechanical horsepower and back. Edit either field and the other updates.
1 HP = 0.745712 kW
When to use it
Generators and distribution gear are rated in kilowatts, while the pumps, compressors, and motors you connect are often rated in horsepower. This converter moves from kW to HP so you can match a generator output to a motor rating, or read a kW figure back as horsepower. This is the shaft rating: a motor draws more than this electrically once efficiency and starting current are counted, so size the supply with headroom.
How it is calculated
HP = kW / 0.745712. kW = HP x 0.745712.
1 kW = 1.341 HP. 1 HP = 0.745712 kW.
Common conversions
| Power (kW) | Power (HP) |
|---|---|
| 1 kW | 1.34 HP |
| 5 kW | 6.71 HP |
| 10 kW | 13.41 HP |
| 25 kW | 33.53 HP |
| 50 kW | 67.05 HP |
| 100 kW | 134.10 HP |
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert kW to HP?
Divide the kilowatts by 0.745712. So 1 kW is about 1.341 mechanical horsepower.
How many HP is 1 kW?
One kilowatt is about 1.341 mechanical horsepower.
How do you convert HP back to kW?
Multiply the horsepower by 0.745712. So 1 HP is 0.745712 kW.
Which horsepower definition is this?
This uses mechanical (imperial) horsepower, the standard for motors and engines. Metric horsepower is slightly different at about 0.7355 kW.
Can I size a generator straight from the HP figure?
Use it as a starting point only. The horsepower is the mechanical output at the shaft; the motor draws more electrically because of its efficiency, and far more for a few seconds at start up, so size the set above the converted figure.