Convert power units instantly. Switch between Watts (W), Kilowatts (kW), Horsepower (hp), BTU/hr, and Foot-pounds per minute. Free tool with formulas and reference tables.
Power Converter
How to Convert Power Units
Power is defined as the rate at which work is performed or energy is transferred. While Watts are the standard metric unit used for electrical devices, Horsepower is traditionally used for engines and motors, and BTU/hr is common in heating and cooling systems.
Common Power Conversion Formulas
To convert between different power scales manually, use these established multipliers based on the Watt:
- Kilowatts to Horsepower: hp = kW × 1.341
- Horsepower to Watts: W = hp × 745.7
- BTU/hr to Watts: W = BTU/hr × 0.293
- Kilowatts to BTU/hr: BTU/hr = kW × 3412.14
Power Quick Reference Table
Use this table for quick benchmarks across common industrial power units:
| Kilowatts (kW) | Horsepower (hp) | BTU/hr |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | 1.341 hp | 3,412.1 BTU/hr |
| 0.746 kW | 1.000 hp | 2,544.4 BTU/hr |
| 10 kW | 13.410 hp | 34,121 BTU/hr |
| 100 kW | 134.102 hp | 341,214 BTU/hr |
Context: Why These Units Matter
- Electrical Engineering (Watts): The primary SI unit for power. Household appliances like light bulbs (60W) and hair dryers (1500W) are rated in Watts.
- Automotive (Horsepower): Developed by James Watt to compare the output of steam engines to the power of draft horses. It remains the standard for measuring car engine output.
- HVAC (BTU/hr): The British Thermal Unit per hour measures the cooling capacity of air conditioners. One “ton” of cooling is equal to 12,000 BTU/hr.
- Industry (Megawatts): Large power plants and industrial grids operate at the Megawatt scale (1,000,000 Watts).
Why Use This Converter?
Manual conversion between thermal energy rates (BTU), mechanical work (Horsepower), and electrical power (Watts) involves non-intuitive decimals. This tool provides instant, high-precision results for engineers, technicians, and students to ensure equipment specifications and project calculations are perfectly aligned.