Kilowatts to Horsepower Converter
1 kW = 1.34102 hp (mechanical). A 100 kW car engine produces about 134 hp. Electric motors are rated in kW.
Inverse conversion
1 hp (mechanical) = 0.745700 kW. A 300 hp sports car engine = 223.7 kW. Electric motors use kW ratings.
Formula
Formula
hp = kW × 1.34102
Worked example
An electric motor rated at 75 kW: 75 × 1.34102 = 100.58 hp.
Quick reference table
| kW | hp |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.341022 |
| 5 | 6.70511 |
| 10 | 13.410221 |
| 50 | 67.051104 |
| 75 | 100.576657 |
| 100 | 134.102209 |
| 200 | 268.204418 |
| 500 | 670.511045 |
Unit definitions
Kilowatt (kW)
The kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 W. The SI power unit. Electric motors, heat pumps, and vehicle power ratings in metric countries use kW.
Horsepower (hp)
Mechanical horsepower (hp) = 745.69987 W. The dominant power unit in US automotive and industrial applications. One mechanical hp is the power to lift 550 lb by 1 foot per second.
Common use cases
- Electric vehicle motor power: kW to hp for US marketing
- Engine specifications: European kW vs US hp
- Electric motor selection for industrial applications
- Generator output comparison