kilowatt (kW)
1 kilowatt = 1,000 watts
What is kilowatt?
A kilowatt is a unit of power equal to 1,000 watts. It is commonly used to rate electric motors, heating systems, solar panels, EV chargers, and industrial equipment.
Notes: Common electrical unit
Real-world uses
Kilowatts are used for rating home electrical systems, electric vehicle charging speeds (Level 2 chargers: 7–22 kW), solar panel array output, electric motors in appliances, and small generators. A typical household may have a peak demand of 3–10 kW.
History
As electricity supply systems expanded in the late 19th century, the kilowatt became the practical unit for measuring power demands and generation capacities beyond the range of single watts. Its adoption enabled standardised rating of motors, generators, and electrical infrastructure.
Common mistakes
Confusing kilowatts (kW, power) with kilowatt-hours (kWh, energy). A 7 kW EV charger running for 2 hours delivers 14 kWh of energy. Also, mixing up kW and kVA in electrical specifications—kVA is apparent power, not real power.
When is this conversion used?
Converting kilowatt to watt is useful in the power domain when comparing values across different measurement standards or applying formulas that require a specific unit.
How to convert kilowatt to watt
To convert kilowatt to watt, multiply the value by 1,000.
Conversion formula (from base unit)
x * 1000.0
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.
| kilowatts | watts |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 100 |
| 0.5 | 500 |
| 1 | 1,000 |
| 2 | 2,000 |
| 5 | 5,000 |
| 10 | 10,000 |
| 25 | 25,000 |
| 50 | 50,000 |
| 100 | 100,000 |
| 250 | 250,000 |
| 500 | 500,000 |
| 1,000 | 1,000,000 |
Common values
| kilowatts | watts | |
|---|---|---|
| LED light bulb | 0.01 kilowatts | 10 watts |
| Desktop computer | 0.3 kilowatts | 300 watts |
| Microwave oven | 1 kilowatt | 1,000 watts |
| Small car engine | 75 kilowatts | 75,000 watts |
| Wind turbine (large) | 3,000 kilowatts | 3,000,000 watts |
Full kilowatt conversion table
| Unit | Value | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| watt | 1 kW = 1,000 W | × 1,000 |
| horsepower (mechanical) | 1 kW = 1.34102209 hp | × 1.34102209 |
| megawatt | 1 kW = 0.001 MW | × 0.001 |
| gigawatt | 1 kW = 0.000001 GW | × 0.000001 |
| milliwatt | 1 kW = 1,000,000 mW | × 1,000,000 |
| microwatt | 1 kW = 1.000000e+09 µW | × 1.000000e+09 |
| BTU per hour | 1 kW = 3,412.14163513 BTU/h | × 3,412.14163513 |
| kilocalorie per hour | 1 kW = 859.84522786 kcal/h | × 859.84522786 |
| ton of refrigeration | 1 kW = 0.28434514 TR | × 0.28434514 |