The Horsepower Calculator finds power from force, distance and time, and converts between horsepower, watts and other power units.
Power = 0.020115 hp
| Mechanical horsepower | 0.020115 |
| Watts | 15 |
| Kilowatts | 0.015 |
| Metric horsepower | 0.020394 |
| 1 Mechanical Horsepower | 745.69987 Watt |
Horsepower is a unit of power, the rate of doing work. James Watt defined it in the 1780s to compare steam engines with horses: one mechanical horsepower is 550 foot-pounds per second, about 745.7 watts. Metric horsepower (PS) is slightly smaller, 735.5 W.
Power = Work ÷ Time = Force × Distance ÷ Time.
Worked example (defaults): 10 N over 3 m in 2 s is 15 W, or about 0.0201 hp.
Mechanical (imperial) hp: 745.7 W. Metric hp: 735.5 W. Electrical hp: 746 W (used for motors). Boiler hp: about 9,809.5 W. 1 kW ≈ 1.341 hp.
What is torque? Rotational force; hp = torque (lb-ft) × rpm ÷ 5,252.
Is brake horsepower different? Yes, it is measured at the engine without drivetrain losses.
How strong is a human? A person can sustain about 0.1 hp and briefly over 1 hp.