A car is advertised as 350 bhp. What's that in kW for a European listing?

350 hp × 0.7457 = 261 kW. In metric horsepower (PS) that is about 355 PS.

I need a 40 kW generator. What hp engine should I look for?

40 kW ÷ 0.7457 = 53.6 hp. At 85–90% alternator efficiency the engine must deliver about 44–47 kW, roughly 60–63 hp, before any extra margin.

The spec sheet for my pump says 7.5 hp. Is my 5 kW electrical supply enough?

7.5 hp × 0.7457 = 5.6 kW. No, your 5 kW supply is undersized. The 5.6 kW is shaft output; with motor losses the electrical input is higher, and starting current is several times the running current, so size the supply and protection from the motor nameplate with an electrician.

Is hp always 0.7457 kW, or are there different types?

Mechanical hp (745.7 W) is used for engines and motors. Metric hp (PS) is 735.5 W (0.7355 kW), used in Europe. Electrical hp is exactly 746 W — a rounding that's negligible in practice.

Horsepower to Kilowatts Converter

Enter a value to instantly convert between power units.

From

Precision4 dp

1 Horsepower (mech) = 0.7457 Kilowatt

Key Formulas

Kilowatt → Horsepower (mech)

hp = kW × 1.34102

Horsepower (mech) → Kilowatt

kW = hp × 0.7457

Watt → Kilowatt

kW = W × 0.001

Kilowatt → Watt

W = kW × 1000

Formula

kW = hp × 0.745700

Engine power is quoted in hp in some markets and in kW in others. When comparing a 300 hp American muscle car to a 220 kW European sports car, converting to a common unit is essential. Industrial motor catalogues list both — a 50 hp motor is 37.3 kW. This conversion also helps when you specify power-to-weight ratios in engineering documents.

Source: NIST SP 811, Table B.8

Reviewed by the Convert Calc editorial team · Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 · see our methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Real-World Examples

A 100 hp engine = 74.6 kW.

100 hp = 74.6 kW

A 200 hp sports car = 149.1 kW.

200 hp = 149.1 kW

A 50 hp industrial motor = 37.3 kW.

50 hp = 37.3 kW

A 450 hp diesel engine for a small industrial locomotive = 335.6 kW.

450 hp = 335.6 kW

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