How many watts in a horsepower?

One horsepower equals 745.7 watts. This conversion is used for motors and engines.

What's the difference between mechanical and electrical horsepower?

Mechanical HP (746 watts) and electrical HP (746 watts) are essentially the same. Use 745.7 for exact conversion.

Watts is the international standard. Horsepower is mostly used in the US for cars and equipment.

Convert power measurements between watts and horsepower

Power

From Unit

Watts

100.00 W

Horsepower

0.1300 hp

1 hp = 746 watts. Used for engines and motors

A typical car engine produces 100-200 hp. Human power output is 50-100 watts

Mechanical horsepower differs slightly from electrical horsepower. This uses mechanical hp (746 W)

This converter switches between watts (metric) and horsepower (imperial) power measurements.

Last updated: February 2026

Why is it called horsepower?

James Watt defined it as the power needed to lift 550 pounds 1 foot in 1 second, roughly a horse's output.

What's the difference between watts and kilowatts?

1 kilowatt (kW) = 1000 watts. Used for larger scales like home electricity usage and power plants.

How much power does a human produce?

Average person produces 50-100 watts at rest. Professional cyclists can produce 400+ watts temporarily.

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