Horsepower vs Kilowatts
Compare horsepower and kilowatts side by side, convert in both directions, and see the exact factor - Power units.
= 0.7457 kW
= 1.341 hp
1 horsepower = 0.7457 kW · 1 kilowatt = 1.341 hp
The Horsepower is the smaller unit - the same amount has a smaller number when measured in it.
| Horsepower (hp) | Kilowatts (kW) | Kilowatts (kW) | Horsepower (hp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.7457 | 1 | 1.341 |
| 2 | 1.4914 | 2 | 2.682 |
| 5 | 3.7285 | 5 | 6.7051 |
| 10 | 7.457 | 10 | 13.4102 |
| 25 | 18.6425 | 25 | 33.5256 |
| 50 | 37.285 | 50 | 67.0511 |
| 100 | 74.57 | 100 | 134.1 |
| 250 | 186.4 | 250 | 335.3 |
| 500 | 372.8 | 500 | 670.5 |
| 1000 | 745.7 | 1000 | 1,341 |
Quick Answer
1 horsepower (hp) = 0.7457 kilowatts (kW), and 1 kilowatt = 1.341 horsepower. Kilowatts is the larger unit, so the same physical amount needs a bigger number when measured in horsepower. Convert either way with the live tool below or the dedicated converter pages.
Key Facts
- 1 horsepower (hp) = 0.7457 kW
- 1 kilowatt (kW) = 1.341 hp
- Conversion is exact multiplication - no rounding in the factor
- Table below covers common values in both directions
- Dedicated converters: hp→kW and kW→hp pages with live tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is bigger, a horsepower or a kilowatt?
One horsepower equals 0.7457 kW, and one kilowatt equals 1.341 hp. The unit with the larger factor is the physically bigger one.
How do I convert horsepower to kilowatts?
Multiply by the factor: value in kW = value in hp × 0.7457. Example: 5 hp = 3.7285 kW. Reverse: divide by 0.7457 (or multiply by 1.341).
Why are horsepower and kilowatts different?
They come from different measurement systems - Horsepower belongs to the metric (SI) world, Kilowatts to the US customary world (or another convention). The conversion is exact: 0.7457 kW per horsepower, no rounding needed for the factor itself.
Is there a quick way to convert without a calculator?
Memorize the 1-to factor: 1 horsepower ≈ 0.7457 kW. Then multiply. For 2 hp that's ≈ 1.4914 kW.
Frequently Asked Questions
One horsepower equals 0.7457 kW, and one kilowatt equals 1.341 hp. The unit with the larger factor is the physically bigger one.
Multiply by the factor: value in kW = value in hp × 0.7457. Example: 5 hp = 3.7285 kW. Reverse: divide by 0.7457 (or multiply by 1.341).
They come from different measurement systems - Horsepower belongs to the metric (SI) world, Kilowatts to the US customary world (or another convention). The conversion is exact: 0.7457 kW per horsepower, no rounding needed for the factor itself.
Memorize the 1-to factor: 1 horsepower ≈ 0.7457 kW. Then multiply. For 2 hp that's ≈ 1.4914 kW.