How to convert horsepower to kilowatts
Every horsepower is 0.7457 kilowatts, so the conversion is a single multiplication:
Worked example: 25 hp → 25 × 0.7457 = 18.6425 kW.
Quick mental estimate: Divide by 1.3: 25 ÷ 1.3 ≈ 19.2308 kW (exact: 18.6425).
Horsepower to kilowatts conversion table
| Horsepower (hp) | Kilowatts (kW) |
|---|---|
| 1 hp | 0.7457 kW |
| 2 hp | 1.4914 kW |
| 3 hp | 2.2371 kW |
| 5 hp | 3.7285 kW |
| 10 hp | 7.457 kW |
| 15 hp | 11.1855 kW |
| 20 hp | 14.914 kW |
| 25 hp | 18.6425 kW |
| 50 hp | 37.285 kW |
| 75 hp | 55.9275 kW |
| 100 hp | 74.57 kW |
| 200 hp | 149.14 kW |
| 250 hp | 186.43 kW |
| 500 hp | 372.85 kW |
| 1,000 hp | 745.7 kW |
Values rounded to four decimals. For a value that is not in the table, use the converter above — it accepts decimals and negative numbers.
When you need this conversion
- Buying or comparing vehicles: engines are rated in horsepower in some markets and kilowatts in others, and electric motors are usually quoted in kW.
- Sizing generators, pumps, compressors and heating equipment from a specification sheet written for another market.
- Electricity consumption, where appliance ratings and tariffs are expressed in kilowatts.
Getting it right
Mechanical horsepower (745.7 W) and metric horsepower, also written PS or CV (735.5 W), differ by about 1.4 %. European car specifications usually quote the metric one; this page uses mechanical horsepower.
Sanity-check the direction of the result before you use it. One horsepower is 0.7457 kilowatts, so converting horsepower to kilowatts should make the number smaller. If it moved the other way, the conversion was applied backwards — the reverse converter is one click away.
About the units
Horsepower (hp)
The horsepower is a unit of power defined in the 18th century to sell steam engines. Mechanical horsepower is 745.7 watts; car engines and motors are still rated in it.
Kilowatt (kW)
The kilowatt is 1 000 watts, the SI unit of power. Electric-vehicle motors, appliances, heaters and solar panels are rated in kilowatts.
Frequently asked questions
How many kilowatts are in 1 horsepower?
1 horsepower equals 0.7457 kilowatts. To convert any value, multiply the number of horsepower by 0.7457.
How do I convert horsepower to kilowatts in my head?
Divide by 1.3: 25 ÷ 1.3 ≈ 19.2308 kW (exact: 18.6425).
Is the hp to kW conversion exact?
1 mechanical horsepower is 745.699872 W by definition; 0.7457 kW is the usual rounded factor. Metric horsepower (PS) is slightly different at 735.5 W.
How do I convert horsepower to kilowatts in Excel or Google Sheets?
Put the value in A1 and use =A1*0.7457. Both Excel and Google Sheets also have a built-in function, =CONVERT(A1,"HP","kW"), which avoids typing the factor by hand.
How many decimal places should I keep?
For everyday use two decimals are plenty. Keep four if the result feeds another calculation, and round only at the very end — rounding intermediate steps is the most common reason a result comes out slightly wrong.