horsepower (mechanical) (hp)
1 horsepower (mechanical) = 745.69987158 watts
What is horsepower (mechanical)?
Mechanical horsepower is a traditional unit of power equal to approximately 745.7 watts. It is widely used in automotive and industrial contexts to express engine output, pump capacity, and motor ratings.
Notes: Mechanical power
Real-world uses
Horsepower is used to rate car engines, industrial motors, lawn mowers, outboard boat motors, and air compressors in the United States and some other markets. A typical family car engine ranges from 100–300 hp. It is also used in aviation and marine propulsion ratings.
History
James Watt coined the term "horsepower" around 1782 to help customers understand the power of his steam engines by comparing it to draft horses. He calculated that a horse could perform work at a rate of about 33,000 foot-pounds per minute, which became the definition of one mechanical horsepower.
Common mistakes
There are at least three different definitions: mechanical horsepower (approximately 745.7 W), metric horsepower (735.5 W), and electrical horsepower (746 W). Automotive specifications often do not specify which type is used, and the differences matter when comparing international specifications.
When is this conversion used?
Converting between horsepower (mechanical) and watt is common when working across metric and imperial systems, such as international trade, travel between countries with different measurement standards, or following instructions from a different region.
How to convert horsepower (mechanical) to watt
To convert horsepower (mechanical) to watt, multiply the value by 745.69987158.
Conversion formula (from base unit)
x * 745.6998715822702
Measurement standards
The watt is the SI derived unit of power, defined as one joule per second (kg·m²/s³). Horsepower remains in widespread informal use, particularly in the automotive industry, but has no single universal definition across regions.
Did you know?
The human body at rest produces about 80 watts of power — roughly enough to keep an incandescent light bulb glowing. During intense exercise, a trained cyclist can sustain over 400 watts, and elite sprinters briefly exceed 2,000 watts.
| horsepower (mechanical) | watts |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 74.56998716 |
| 0.5 | 372.84993579 |
| 1 | 745.69987158 |
| 2 | 1,491.39974316 |
| 5 | 3,728.49935791 |
| 10 | 7,456.99871582 |
| 25 | 18,642.49678956 |
| 50 | 37,284.99357911 |
| 100 | 74,569.98715823 |
| 250 | 186,424.96789557 |
| 500 | 372,849.93579114 |
| 1,000 | 745,699.87158227 |
Common values
| horsepower (mechanical) | watts | |
|---|---|---|
| LED light bulb | 0.01341022 horsepower (mechanical) | 10 watts |
| Desktop computer | 0.40230663 horsepower (mechanical) | 300 watts |
| Microwave oven | 1.34102209 horsepower (mechanical) | 1,000 watts |
| Small car engine | 100.57665672 horsepower (mechanical) | 75,000 watts |
| Wind turbine (large) | 4,023.06626879 horsepower (mechanical) | 3,000,000 watts |
Full horsepower (mechanical) conversion table
| Unit | Value | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| watt | 1 hp = 745.69987158 W | × 745.69987158 |
| kilowatt | 1 hp = 0.74569987 kW | × 0.74569987 |
| megawatt | 1 hp = 0.0007457 MW | × 0.0007457 |
| gigawatt | 1 hp = 7.456999e-07 GW | × 7.456999e-07 |
| milliwatt | 1 hp = 745,699.87158227 mW | × 745,699.87158227 |
| microwatt | 1 hp = 745,699,871.58227026 µW | × 745,699,871.58227026 |
| BTU per hour | 1 hp = 2,544.43357914 BTU/h | × 2,544.43357914 |
| kilocalorie per hour | 1 hp = 641.186476 kcal/h | × 641.186476 |
| ton of refrigeration | 1 hp = 0.21203613 TR | × 0.21203613 |