kW to HP Converter — Convert Kilowatts to Horsepower (and HP to kW)
Convert kW to HP and HP to kW instantly. Enter any value → get mechanical and metric horsepower with a full conversion table.
Calculator
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20.5 kW = 27.49 HP
Using mechanical horsepower. 1 HP = 0.745699872 kW.
| kW | Mechanical HP | Metric HP (PS) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 kW | 0.67 HP | 0.68 PS |
| 0.75 kW | 1.01 HP | 1.02 PS |
| 1 kW | 1.34 HP | 1.36 PS |
| 2 kW | 2.68 HP | 2.72 PS |
| 3 kW | 4.02 HP | 4.08 PS |
| 5.6 kW | 7.51 HP | 7.61 PS |
| 7.5 kW | 10.06 HP | 10.20 PS |
| 11 kW | 14.75 HP | 14.96 PS |
| 15 kW | 20.12 HP | 20.39 PS |
| 18.5 kW | 24.81 HP | 25.15 PS |
| 20.5 kW | 27.49 HP | 27.87 PS |
| 22 kW | 29.50 HP | 29.91 PS |
| 30 kW | 40.23 HP | 40.79 PS |
| 37 kW | 49.62 HP | 50.31 PS |
| 45 kW | 60.35 HP | 61.18 PS |
| 55 kW | 73.76 HP | 74.78 PS |
| 75 kW | 100.58 HP | 101.97 PS |
Formula
HP = kW ÷ 0.7457 (mechanical). kW = HP × 0.7457. Metric HP (PS/CV): HP = kW ÷ 0.7355. 1 kW = 1.34102 mechanical HP = 1.35962 metric HP.
Example calculation
20.5 kW to HP: 20.5 ÷ 0.7457 = 27.49 mechanical HP (or 27.87 metric PS). 5.6 kW to HP: 5.6 ÷ 0.7457 = 7.51 HP ≈ 7.5 HP. Reverse — 7.5 HP to kW: 7.5 × 0.7457 = 5.59 kW.
Engineering notes
There are two horsepower definitions. Mechanical (imperial) HP = 745.7 W is used for US/UK equipment and most motor nameplates. Metric HP (PS in German, CV in French/Italian) = 735.5 W is used for European and Asian equipment and automotive ratings — about 1.4% smaller. For Indian electrical schedules and MCC design, convert imported HP ratings to kW using mechanical HP unless the nameplate specifies PS/CV. Standard IEC motor kW ratings (0.75, 1.1, 1.5, 2.2, 3.7, 5.5, 7.5, 11, 15, 18.5, 22, 30, 37, 45, 55, 75 kW) map to common HP frames — e.g. 5.5 kW ≈ 7.5 HP, 7.5 kW ≈ 10 HP, 22 kW ≈ 30 HP.
When to use this calculator
- Converting imported equipment HP ratings to kW for Indian MCC and electrical load schedules
- Reading US/European motor nameplates and matching them to standard IEC kW frame sizes
- Sizing generators, pumps, and compressors quoted in HP against kW-rated supply
- Quick shop-floor kW↔HP checks without a formula lookup
Frequently asked questions
- How do I convert kW to HP?
- Divide kilowatts by 0.7457 to get mechanical horsepower: HP = kW ÷ 0.7457 (equivalently kW × 1.341). For example, 20.5 kW = 20.5 ÷ 0.7457 = 27.49 HP. For metric horsepower (PS/CV), divide by 0.7355 instead: 20.5 kW = 27.87 PS.
- What is the difference between mechanical HP and metric HP (PS)?
- Mechanical (imperial) horsepower = 745.7 watts, used in the US/UK and on most motor nameplates. Metric horsepower (PS in German, CV in French) = 735.5 watts, used across Europe and Asia and in automotive ratings. Metric HP is about 1.4% smaller, so the same kW value gives a slightly higher metric-HP number.
- How many HP is 5.6 kW?
- 5.6 kW = 5.6 ÷ 0.7457 = 7.51 mechanical HP, which is the standard 7.5 HP motor rating. In metric HP it is 7.61 PS. This is why a 5.5 kW IEC motor is commonly labelled as a 7.5 HP motor.
- How many HP is 20.5 kW?
- 20.5 kW = 27.49 mechanical HP (27.87 metric PS). The nearest standard motor rating is 30 HP / 22 kW, so a load calculated at 20.5 kW is typically served by a 22 kW (30 HP) standard-frame motor.
- How do I convert HP back to kW?
- Multiply horsepower by 0.7457 for mechanical HP: kW = HP × 0.7457. For example, 10 HP = 7.457 kW. For metric HP (PS), multiply by 0.7355 instead. Common conversions: 1 HP = 0.746 kW, 5 HP = 3.73 kW, 7.5 HP = 5.59 kW, 10 HP = 7.46 kW, 25 HP = 18.64 kW, 50 HP = 37.28 kW.
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