⚡ Power Conversion Calculator 2026
Convert between watts, kilowatts, horsepower, BTU/hour, and more
1 kW = 1.341 hp
Formula: value × 1.341
📊 All Conversions
Common Power Conversions
| From | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kilowatt (kW) | horsepower (hp) | 1.341 |
| 1 horsepower (hp) | kilowatt (kW) | 0.7457 |
| 1 kilowatt (kW) | BTU/hour | 3,412 |
| 1 BTU/hour | watts | 0.2931 |
| 1 ton of refrigeration | kilowatts | 3.517 |
| 1 metric horsepower (PS) | watts | 735.5 |
Typical Power Ratings
| Device/Application | Typical Power |
|---|---|
| 💡 LED light bulb | 9-15 W |
| 💻 Laptop computer | 30-65 W |
| 📺 LED TV (55") | 80-120 W |
| 🧊 Refrigerator | 100-400 W |
| ❄️ Window AC (1 ton) | 1,000-1,500 W |
| 🚗 Economy car engine | 75-120 kW (100-160 hp) |
| 🏎️ Sports car engine | 300-500 kW (400-670 hp) |
| ⚡ Power plant (large) | 1,000+ MW |
Understanding Power Units
⚡ Watt (W)
SI unit of power. 1 W = 1 joule/second. Named after James Watt. kW (1000W), MW (10⁶W), GW (10⁹W) for larger values.
🐎 Horsepower (hp)
Mechanical power unit. 1 hp = 745.7 W (mechanical). Metric hp (PS) = 735.5 W. Originally based on horse work rate.
🔥 BTU/hour
Thermal power unit. Used for HVAC. 1 BTU/h = 0.293 W. 1 kW = 3,412 BTU/h. Common in US heating/cooling.
❄️ Ton of Refrigeration
Cooling capacity. 1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h = 3.517 kW. Based on melting 1 ton of ice in 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is power?
Rate of energy transfer. Power = Energy / Time. Measured in watts
(W). Higher power = more work done per second. Power × Time = Energy.
How do I convert watts to horsepower?
Divide by 745.7. Example: 1000 W ÷ 745.7 = 1.34 hp. Or multiply
watts by 0.00134.
How do I convert horsepower to watts?
Multiply by 745.7. Example: 100 hp × 745.7 = 74,570 W = 74.57 kW.
How do I convert kW to hp?
Multiply by 1.341. Example: 100 kW × 1.341 = 134.1 hp. Or divide
kW by 0.7457.
What is the difference between hp and metric hp (PS)?
Mechanical hp = 745.7 W. Metric hp (PS, pferdestärke) = 735.5 W.
About 1.4% difference. Europe often uses PS.
How do I convert BTU/hour to watts?
Multiply by 0.2931. Example: 10,000 BTU/h × 0.2931 = 2,931 W ≈
2.93 kW.
How do I convert watts to BTU/hour?
Multiply by 3.412. Example: 1,000 W × 3.412 = 3,412 BTU/h. Used
for HVAC calculations.
What is a ton of refrigeration?
12,000 BTU/hour = 3.517 kW. Cooling capacity to melt 1 short ton
(2000 lb) of ice in 24 hours. Standard AC unit sizing.
How do I size an air conditioner?
Rule of thumb: 20 BTU per sq ft. 200 sq ft room ≈ 4,000 BTU. Add
for sun, people, appliances. 12,000 BTU = 1 ton.
What is electrical horsepower?
746 W exactly. Used for electric motors. Slightly different from
mechanical hp (745.7 W). Both commonly rounded to 746 W.
What is the relationship between power and energy?
Energy = Power × Time. 1 kWh = 1 kW for 1 hour = 3.6 MJ. Your
electric bill measures energy (kWh), not power.
How much power does a typical home use?
1-5 kW average (varies greatly). Peak: 10-15+ kW with AC/heating.
US average: ~30 kWh/day = 1.25 kW average.
What is a megawatt?
1,000 kilowatts = 1,000,000 watts. Power plant scale. 1 MW can
power ~750-1,000 homes (average use).
What is a gigawatt?
1,000 megawatts = 1 billion watts. Large power plant or nuclear
reactor scale. "1.21 gigawatts!" — Back to the Future.
Why is horsepower used for engines?
Historical marketing. James Watt compared steam engines to horses.
1 hp ≈ work rate of strong horse. Still used because familiar.
What is boiler horsepower?
9,809.5 W = ~33,475 BTU/h. Used for boilers. Much larger than
mechanical hp! Based on steam generation capacity.
How accurate is this power converter?
Uses exact conversion factors. Results are mathematically precise.
hp definitions vary slightly by type (mechanical, metric, electric).