Kilowatts to horsepower – convert kW to hp
Convert kilowatts to horsepower (kW to hp) when you need engine or motor power expressed in traditional hp instead of SI kilowatts. This page opens the main power converter with kW → hp pre-selected.
Quick reference: kW to hp
For mechanical horsepower: 1 kW ≈ 1.341 hp.
| Kilowatts (kW) | Horsepower (hp, approx.) |
|---|---|
| 50 kW | 67.1 hp |
| 75 kW | 100.6 hp |
| 100 kW | 134.1 hp |
| 150 kW | 201.2 hp |
| 200 kW | 268.2 hp |
Why convert kW to horsepower?
- Reading European car specs (in kW) in familiar hp terms.
- Comparing electric motor ratings against older hp-based data.
- Converting technical reports into hp for marketing or sales material.
- Understanding labels on generators, pumps or compressors.
kW vs hp in real usage
kW is the official SI unit and appears in most modern regulations and data sheets.
hp is still widely used in car brochures, boating, small engines and general conversation.
kW to hp FAQ
- Is 100 kW a lot of power for a car?
- 100 kW is about 134 hp – roughly a mid-range family car output.
- What about electric cars?
- EVs are usually quoted in kW, but you can convert to hp with the same formula as combustion engines.
- Does this use mechanical hp or metric hp?
- This page uses mechanical horsepower. Metric horsepower (PS) is covered on the metric horsepower pages below.