Power Watts To Horsepower
Calculator
Results
- Mechanical horsepower
- 1.341022
- Metric horsepower
- 1.359621
- Kilowatts
- 1
- BTU per hour
- 3,412.141633
- Foot-pounds per second
- 737.562149
Conversion results
| Mechanical horsepower | 1.341022 |
| Metric horsepower | 1.359621 |
| Kilowatts | 1 |
| BTU per hour | 3,412.141633 |
| Foot-pounds per second | 737.562149 |
formula-map diagram
- Mechanical horsepower
- 1.341022
- Metric horsepower
- 1.359621
- Kilowatts
- 1
- BTU per hour
- 3,412.141633
- Foot-pounds per second
- 737.562149
Unit relationship
Formula
hp = W ÷ 745.6998715822702 (550 ft·lbf/s)= 1.341022089595
Note
This result is a simplified model: it converts the single value you entered with the exact factors shown, and rounds to the display precision. It does not know your measurement's accuracy, and cooking or density conversions depend on how an ingredient is packed. Check critical figures against the original units.
More in Unit conversions
See all →Frequently asked questions
How many watts are in one horsepower?+
It depends on the definition: mechanical (imperial) horsepower is about 745.7 watts, while metric horsepower (PS, used in much of Europe) is about 735.5 watts. The calculator distinguishes between them since car specifications sometimes use one or the other.
Why do a car's advertised horsepower and its metric PS rating differ slightly for the same engine?+
Mechanical horsepower and metric horsepower (PS) are defined using slightly different reference units for force and distance, so the same physical engine output converts to two numbers that differ by about 1.4% — PS is very slightly smaller than hp.
How was horsepower originally defined?+
James Watt defined horsepower in the late 1700s as an estimate of how much continuous work a strong horse could do, roughly 33,000 foot-pounds of work per minute. It's since been standardized to an exact wattage figure, but the name and rough magnitude persist from that original estimate.
Is electrical wattage on an appliance directly comparable to horsepower?+
They measure the same underlying quantity (power) so they can be converted, but an appliance's electrical wattage reflects power drawn from the outlet, not necessarily useful mechanical output — motor efficiency losses mean a '1 hp' motor typically draws noticeably more than 746 watts of electricity.
Why does a small engine's horsepower rating look tiny compared to household appliance wattage?+
It doesn't, once converted properly — a modest 1 hp engine equals about 746 watts, roughly the same order of magnitude as a hair dryer or toaster, which surprises people who assume 'horsepower' implies something much larger than household electrical power.