Power Unit Converter

Input Pattern

Enter values in the left panel, keep units explicit, run the calculation, then copy or share the result. Invalid fields are highlighted immediately.

How to use this tool

1. Enter the power value from your spec sheet, brochure, dyno result, or equipment manual.
2. {"Choose the source unit"=>"kW for SI power, PS for metric horsepower, HP for mechanical horsepower, or BHP for brake horsepower."}
3. Select the target unit and click `Convert`.
4. Use the main result and all-unit equivalents to compare ratings consistently, while keeping the original measurement context in your notes.

Formula or method

• kW is the SI-friendly unit commonly used for electric motors, regulations, machinery, and many international vehicle specs.
• PS is metric horsepower, also called Pferdestarke, and is common in European and Japanese automotive specifications.
• HP here means mechanical horsepower, using 1 HP = 0.7456998716 kW.
• BHP uses the same numerical conversion factor as mechanical horsepower in this calculator; it usually means brake horsepower measured at the engine output before drivetrain losses.

Worked example

Converting 170 PS to BHP

• Power: 170 PS
• Convert to: BHP

Result: The converter returns about 167.674 BHP and also lists the equivalent kW, HP, and PS values.

This is the common comparison when an EU vehicle listing uses PS but a UK or US discussion uses brake horsepower. The numerical conversion is useful, but the source rating standard still matters.

How to interpret the result

Unit conversion makes ratings comparable, but it does not prove that two published power figures were measured under the same test conditions.

• kW and HP/PS/BHP can describe the same power value using different regional or technical conventions.
• PS is slightly smaller than mechanical HP, so the same kW value converts to a larger PS number than HP number.
• {"BHP is best understood as a measurement context"=>"engine output before drivetrain losses, not wheel horsepower."}
• Wheel horsepower, net horsepower, gross horsepower, and manufacturer rating standards can differ even when the unit label looks similar.

Common mistakes

• Treating PS and HP as identical when comparing European and US vehicle specs.
• Assuming BHP, crank horsepower, and wheel horsepower all describe the same measurement point.
• Comparing dyno results with manufacturer ratings without checking correction standard, drivetrain loss, and test conditions.
• Expecting this converter to handle watts, megawatts, BTU/h, kVA, or power density units; it only supports kW, PS, HP, and BHP.

FAQ

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