kW to BHP, HP & PS Converter

Convert power figures between kilowatts, mechanical horsepower (BHP/HP) and metric horsepower (PS) in either direction. Type a value, pick the unit, and the other two update instantly.

Power value

Results

Kilowatts

—kW

Mechanical horsepower (BHP / HP)

—BHP

Metric horsepower (PS)

—PS

Enter a power value above to see the conversion.

How this converter works

This tool converts between three common power units used in the automotive world. You enter a single value and choose its unit; the calculator works out the equivalent figure in the other two units.

BHP and HP both refer to mechanical (imperial) horsepower, so they share the same numerical value here. PS (Pferdestärke, metric horsepower) is very slightly different — 1 PS is about 98.6% of 1 mechanical HP.

1 BHP (mechanical HP) = 0.7456998715822702 kW
1 PS = 0.73549875 kW
BHP = kW ÷ 0.7456998715822702
PS = kW ÷ 0.73549875

Worked example: 100 kW ÷ 0.7456998715822702 = 134.10 BHP, and 100 kW ÷ 0.73549875 = 135.96 PS.

A note on what this does not do

Converting units only changes the scale of the same power figure — it does not convert wheel horsepower into engine horsepower, nor does it account for drivetrain losses. A figure quoted at the wheels will always be lower than the same engine’s output at the crank. Always check whether a quoted number is measured at the engine or at the wheels before comparing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between BHP and HP?

In everyday car talk they are used interchangeably and both mean mechanical (imperial) horsepower. Strictly, BHP means brake horsepower — power measured at the engine’s output shaft under load — but numerically 1 BHP equals 1 mechanical HP.

Why is PS slightly higher than BHP for the same engine?

Because 1 PS (0.7355 kW) is a slightly smaller unit than 1 mechanical HP (0.7457 kW). For the same power, the smaller unit gives a larger number, so a 100 kW engine is about 134 BHP but roughly 136 PS.

Does converting kW to BHP tell me my car’s real output?

Only if the original kW figure was measured the same way. The converter changes units, not the measurement point. A rolling-road wheel figure and a manufacturer’s engine figure are not directly comparable even after unit conversion.

Are the results rounded?

Yes. Calculations use full precision internally and only the displayed values are rounded to two decimal places.

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