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Power conversion

kW to PS and hp converter

Convert kilowatts to metric horsepower (PS), mechanical horsepower (hp) or brake horsepower (bhp), and convert back in every direction. The converter shows the factor used and the difference between the horsepower systems.

Quick answer: 100 kW = 135.96 PS = 134.1 hp. 150 PS = 110.32 kW.

PS and hp are not interchangeable labels

Metric horsepower (PS) and mechanical horsepower (hp) differ by about 1.4%. A car quoted at 150 PS is not exactly 150 hp. Using the wrong factor produces a small but real error.

Convert vehicle power

Your inputs

PS is metric horsepower. hp is mechanical horsepower. They are not the same unit.

kW

Examples

Estimated result

Power conversion

Metric horsepower

135.96 PS

100 kW = 134.1 hp.

Kilowatts

100 kW

Metric horsepower

135.96 PS

1 PS = 0.73549875 kW

Mechanical horsepower

134.1 hp

1 hp = 0.745699872 kW

Brake horsepower

134.1 bhp

Treated as mechanical hp in this converter

bhp is a measurement convention (brake horsepower), not a separate unit with a different arithmetic factor here. If a source uses a different standard or rounding, start from the unit that source actually names.

The formulas

From kilowatts

PS = kW ÷ 0.73549875
hp = kW ÷ 0.7456998716
bhp = hp (mechanical hp factor)

Example: 100 kW
PS = 100 ÷ 0.73549875 = 135.96 PS
hp = 100 ÷ 0.7456998716 = 134.10 hp

To kilowatts

kW = PS × 0.73549875
kW = hp × 0.7456998716
kW = bhp × 0.7456998716

Example: 150 PS
kW = 150 × 0.73549875 = 110.32 kW

These are unit conversions, not dyno measurements. Manufacturer figures can also differ by test standard, rounding, ancillaries and whether the rating is at the crank or at the wheels.

Reference table

Rounded to two decimal places. The same tested function produces the table and the calculator.

Kilowatts to metric and mechanical horsepower
kWPS (metric hp)hp (mechanical)bhp
75101.97100.58100.58
100135.96134.1134.1
110149.56147.51147.51
120163.15160.92160.92
150203.94201.15201.15
200271.92268.2268.2
300407.89402.31402.31

PS, hp and bhp: what is the difference?

PS — metric horsepower

Pferdestärke, also written as metric horsepower or cv/ch in some markets. One PS is 735.49875 watts.

hp — mechanical horsepower

The imperial horsepower used in the US and in many English-language contexts. One mechanical horsepower is 745.6998716 watts.

bhp — brake horsepower

Brake horsepower describes where and how output is measured (at a brake or dynamometer). It is not a separate arithmetic unit here, so this converter applies the mechanical hp factor. A source may still use a different test standard.

Questions

How many hp is 100 kW?
100 kW is about 134.10 mechanical horsepower and about 135.96 metric horsepower (PS). The difference comes from the two horsepower definitions.
How many kW is 150 hp?
150 mechanical horsepower is about 111.85 kW. If the figure is 150 PS instead, it is about 110.32 kW. Check which unit the source used.
Is PS the same as hp?
No. One PS is 735.49875 W; one mechanical hp is 745.6998716 W. The ratio is about 0.9863 hp per PS. They are close enough to look similar but not close enough to treat as identical.
How many kW is 300 bhp?
Using the mechanical horsepower factor used here, 300 bhp is about 223.71 kW. If the original figure was 300 PS, the result would be about 220.65 kW.
Why does a manufacturer quote a different figure?
Unit conversion is only one source of difference. Test standards, rounding, engine ancillaries, ambient conditions, fuel and whether power is measured at the crank or the wheels can all change a published number. This tool does not correct for those standards.

Sources

Page last reviewed: . Formulas are covered by automated tests. Prices are inputs, not live data.

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