Horsepower (hp) to Metric horsepower (PS) Conversion
Horsepower
Horsepower (hp) is a unit of power originally defined by James Watt in the 1780s to market steam engines against the work output of draft horses. The US mechanical horsepower equals exactly 745.69987158 watts. Multiple definitions exist: mechanical hp (745.7 W), metric hp (735.5 W), and electrical hp (746 W). In the automotive industry, engine power is expressed in horsepower in the US and UK markets, where 1 hp ≈ 0.7457 kW.
Metric horsepower
Metric horsepower (PS, from German Pferdestärke; CV in French, Spanish, and Portuguese) is a unit of power equal to exactly 735.49875 watts — approximately 1.4% less than the US mechanical horsepower (745.7 W). It is the standard for vehicle engine power ratings in continental Europe, and appears in EU type approval certificates. A car rated at 200 PS produces 147.1 kW, while a car rated at 200 US hp produces 149.1 kW — a distinction that matters in precise international performance comparisons.
| Horsepower (hp) | Metric horsepower (PS) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 hp | 0.1014 PS |
| 1 hp | 1.0139 PS |
| 2 hp | 2.0277 PS |
| 3 hp | 3.0416 PS |
| 5 hp | 5.0693 PS |
| 10 hp | 10.1387 PS |
| 20 hp | 20.2774 PS |
| 30 hp | 30.4161 PS |
| 50 hp | 50.6935 PS |
| 100 hp | 101.387 PS |
| 1000 hp | 1,013.8697 PS |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many metric horsepower are in 1 horsepower?
1 horsepower (hp) is exactly 1.0139 metric horsepower (PS).
How do I convert horsepower to metric horsepower?
Multiply the value in horsepower by 1.0139 to get the result in metric horsepower. Or use the converter above — type any number and see the result instantly.