Power Converter
Convert power measurements between watts, kilowatts, megawatts and horsepower.
How It Works
- 1Enter a value.
- 2Choose the units to convert from and to.
- 3See the result instantly.
Features
- 4 common power units
Privacy
All conversions happen instantly in your browser using fixed conversion factors.
About Power Converter
Power measures the rate energy is used or produced, and the watt — one joule per second — is the SI unit behind kilowatts and megawatts. Horsepower predates the watt and was originally defined by James Watt as a way to compare steam engines to actual draft horses; it survives today mainly for describing engines and motors.
There are actually two slightly different horsepower definitions in use — mechanical (imperial) horsepower at about 745.7 watts and metric horsepower at about 735.5 watts — a roughly 1.4% gap that rarely matters for casual conversions but is worth knowing if you're comparing precise engine specifications from different countries.
Typical uses include comparing a vehicle or generator's horsepower rating against an electrical appliance's wattage, or converting a motor's power rating for an engineering spec sheet.