Power Converter
Enter one power value and instantly see useful equivalents for motors, appliances, HVAC, vehicles, generators, and engineering.
Browse conversion tools
This page uses HandyCalcHub's shared conversion engine. Visit the Converters hub to see current and future converter categories.
What this converter does
The Power Converter changes one entered power rating into several common units at the same time. It supports watts, kilowatts, megawatts, mechanical horsepower, metric horsepower, and BTU per hour.
How power conversion works
Each unit is converted through a shared base unit: watts. For example, kilowatts convert to watts using the exact relationship 1 kW = 1,000 W. The result is then converted from watts into each target unit.
Power is a rate of using or producing energy. A watt is power. A watt-hour is energy. For energy amounts such as kWh, Wh, joules, or BTU, use the Energy Converter.
Worked example
If you enter 1 kW, the converter shows 1,000 W, 0.001 MW, about 1.3410220896 mechanical hp, about 1.3596216173 PS, and about 3,412.141633 BTU/h.
Useful conversion relationships
| Relationship | Value |
|---|---|
| 1 kW | 1,000 W |
| 1 MW | 1,000,000 W |
| 1 mechanical horsepower | 745.6998715822702 W |
| 1 metric horsepower | 735.49875 W |
| 1 W | about 3.412141633 BTU/h |
| 1 BTU/h | about 0.2930710702 W |
When power conversions are useful
Power conversions are useful for comparing electric motors, appliances, generators, HVAC equipment, vehicle output, engineering specifications, machine ratings, and electrical load estimates written in different unit systems.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts are in a kilowatt?
One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts.
How many horsepower are in 1 kW?
One kilowatt is about 1.3410220896 mechanical horsepower.
What is metric horsepower?
Metric horsepower, often written PS, equals 735.49875 watts.
How many BTU per hour are in 1 kW?
One kilowatt is about 3,412.141633 BTU per hour.
Is a watt a unit of energy?
No. A watt is a unit of power. A watt-hour is a unit of energy. Use the Energy Converter for energy units such as Wh, kWh, joules, BTU, and calories.