Power Converter

Use our free Power Converter to convert power measurements between watts, kilowatts, megawatts, horsepower, BTU per hour, and other supported units.

Enter a power value, choose the starting unit and target unit, and get the converted result instantly. The tool is useful for electrical calculations, vehicle specifications, HVAC ratings, physics problems, motors, appliances, and engineering work.

Convert Power Units Online

Choose the power unit you already have and the unit you want to convert it into.

For example:

1 kilowatt = 1,000 watts

and approximately:

1 kilowatt = 1.341 mechanical horsepower

How to Use the Power Converter

What Is a Power Converter?

A Power Converter is a unit-conversion tool that changes a power measurement from one unit into another equivalent unit.

Power measures the rate at which energy is transferred or used.

The SI unit of power is the watt (W), where:

1 watt = 1 joule per second

Different industries use different power units.

For example:

• Electrical appliances commonly use watts or kilowatts.
• Vehicle engines are often rated in horsepower.
• Large power systems may use megawatts.
• Heating and cooling systems commonly use BTU per hour.

A power unit converter makes these measurements easier to compare.

Common Power Units

Watt (W)

The watt is the standard SI unit of power.

It is commonly used for:

• Light bulbs
• Electronics
• Small appliances
• Electrical devices
• Solar panels

Kilowatt (kW)

One kilowatt equals:

1 kW = 1,000 W

Kilowatts are commonly used for larger appliances, motors, electric vehicles, generators, and electrical systems.

Megawatt (MW)

One megawatt equals:

1 MW = 1,000 kW = 1,000,000 W

Megawatts are commonly used for power plants, large generators, wind turbines, and utility-scale electricity production.

Horsepower (hp)

Horsepower is commonly used to describe the output of engines and motors.

One mechanical horsepower is approximately:

1 hp = 745.7 W

Therefore:

1 kW ≈ 1.341 hp

BTU per Hour (BTU/h)

BTU per hour measures the rate of heat transfer and is commonly used for:

• Air conditioners
• Heaters
• Furnaces
• HVAC systems

Approximately:

1 W ≈ 3.412 BTU/h

and:

1 kW ≈ 3,412.14 BTU/h

Popular Power Conversions

These values use mechanical horsepower where horsepower is shown.

Example: Convert Kilowatts to Horsepower

Suppose a motor is rated at:

100 kW

To convert kilowatts to mechanical horsepower:

100 × 1.34102 ≈ 134.1 hp

So:

100 kW ≈ 134.1 hp

A Power Converter performs this calculation automatically.

Example: Convert Horsepower to Kilowatts

Suppose an engine produces:

200 hp

Use:

200 × 0.7457 ≈ 149.14 kW

Therefore:

200 hp ≈ 149.14 kW

This conversion is useful when comparing U.S. vehicle specifications with specifications that use kilowatts.

Example: Convert BTU/h to Kilowatts

Suppose an HVAC system has a cooling capacity of:

12,000 BTU/h

Using the standard conversion:

12,000 BTU/h ≈ 3.52 kW

Note that an HVAC cooling-capacity rating in kW is not necessarily the same as the electrical power the appliance draws from the outlet.

Power vs. Energy

Power and energy are related, but they are not the same measurement.

Power describes how quickly energy is being transferred or used.

Examples:

• Watt
• Kilowatt
• Horsepower
• BTU/h

Energy measures the total amount used or transferred over a period of time.

Examples:

• Joule
• Kilowatt-hour
• BTU

For example, kW is power, while kWh is energy.

A 2 kW appliance operating for 3 hours uses:

2 kW × 3 h = 6 kWh

Use a power converter only when converting between units that measure power.

Where Is a Power Converter Useful?

Electrical Work

Convert watts, kilowatts, and other power ratings when comparing electrical equipment.

Automotive

Convert engine or motor output between horsepower and kilowatts.

HVAC

Convert heating or cooling capacity between BTU/h and watts or kilowatts.

Physics and Engineering

Students and professionals can quickly change units without manually applying conversion factors.

Appliances and Equipment

Compare power ratings when manufacturers provide specifications in different units.

Power Unit Converter vs. Electrical Power Converter

The phrase power converter can also refer to a physical electrical device that changes electrical power from one form to another, such as AC to DC or one voltage level to another.

This page is a power unit converter. It converts numerical measurements such as watts, kilowatts, horsepower, and BTU/h. It does not physically convert electricity, voltage, current, or frequency.

FAQs

How many watts are in 1 kilowatt?

There are:

1,000 watts in 1 kilowatt.

So:

1 kW = 1,000 W

How many watts are in one horsepower?

One mechanical horsepower is approximately:

745.7 watts

How many horsepower are in 1 kilowatt?

One kilowatt is approximately:

1.341 mechanical horsepower

How do I convert horsepower to kilowatts?

Multiply mechanical horsepower by approximately 0.7457.

For example:

100 hp × 0.7457 = 74.57 kW

How do I convert watts to kilowatts?

Divide watts by 1,000.

For example:

2,500 W ÷ 1,000 = 2.5 kW

How many BTU/h are in 1 kilowatt?

One kilowatt is approximately:

3,412.14 BTU/h

Is kW the same as kWh?

No. kW measures power, while kWh measures energy used over time.

For example, a 1 kW appliance running for 2 hours uses 2 kWh of energy.

Is this Power Converter free?

Yes. You can use the Power Converter online without manually calculating conversion formulas.