kW to HP Converter
Motor nameplates mix units freely: American motors quote horsepower, European and Asian ones quote kilowatts, and HVAC people talk BTU per hour. This converter translates between watts, kilowatts, mechanical horsepower and BTU/h in one step.
Conversions: 1 HP = 0.746 kW = 746 W = 2,545 BTU/h · 1 kW = 3,412 BTU/h
Worked example: a 10 HP motor = 10 × 0.746 = 7.46 kW of shaft power, and 10 × 2,545 = 25,450 BTU/h. Note the trap: that is shaft (output) power. The electrical input is higher — divide by the motor's efficiency (a 90% efficient 7.46 kW motor draws 8.29 kW). For the current that input draws, use the motor FLA calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is horsepower the same as kilowatts?
They measure the same thing — power — in different units. 1 mechanical horsepower = 746 watts exactly (0.746 kW). Metric horsepower (PS) is slightly different at 735.5 W, but nameplates in most of the world use the 746 W figure.
Why is the motor's electrical draw higher than its HP rating?
The HP rating is shaft output. Input power = output ÷ efficiency, so a 10 HP motor at 90% efficiency draws 8.29 kW, not 7.46 kW — and the cable and breaker must be sized for the input.
What is BTU/h doing here?
Air-conditioning and heating equipment is rated in BTU per hour. 1 kW of cooling or heating equals 3,412 BTU/h, which lets you compare an AC unit's rating directly with its electrical input.