Free power converter
Horsepower Converter — HP, kW, PS and Torque
Convert horsepower between HP, kW, PS and BHP — plus estimate torque from power and RPM.
Convert Power Units
Type a value in any unit.
Horsepower Units Explained
- HP (mechanical): the US standard — 550 ft-lb per second.
- PS (Pferdestärke): metric horsepower, ~1.4% smaller than HP. German cars quote PS.
- kW: the SI unit — what EVs and engineers use. 100 kW is about 134 hp.
- BHP: brake horsepower is about crank HP before drivetrain losses.
Horsepower vs Torque
Torque is twisting force (what you feel off the line); horsepower is torque x RPM / 5,252 (how long the pull lasts). Diesels and EVs make big torque low; sports cars make big power high.
Power-to-Weight Benchmarks
- 20+ lb/hp: economy cars — relaxed.
- 12–15 lb/hp: sporty daily drivers.
- Under 10 lb/hp: properly fast.
- Under 6 lb/hp: supercar territory.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kW is 1 horsepower?
1 US hp = 0.7457 kW. So 300 hp = 223.7 kW — the number EVs put on their spec sheets.
What is the difference between HP and PS?
PS (metric hp) is ~1.4% smaller than US hp: 300 hp = 304 PS. European brochures quote PS, which reads slightly higher.
How do I convert HP to torque?
Torque (lb-ft) = HP x 5,252 / RPM. You need the RPM where peak power is made — the tool above estimates it.
Is BHP the same as HP?
Effectively yes in modern usage — BHP is power measured at the crankshaft. Wheel HP (WHP) is ~15% lower after drivetrain losses.
How much HP do I need?
150–200 hp is plenty for daily driving. 250–350 hp is fun. Above 400 hp, tires and chassis matter more than the number.
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