Convert power units — watts, kilowatts, horsepower, BTU/hr.
| Unit | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| W | Watt | 745.7 |
| kW | Kilowatt | 0.7457 |
| MW | Megawatt | 0.0007457 |
| BTU/hr | BTU/hr | 2544.4346 |
Formula: Megawatt = Horsepower × 0.0007457
Multiply any horsepower value by 0.0007457 to get megawatt.
Reverse: Horsepower = Megawatt × 1341
Common horsepower values — factor: 1 hp = 0.0007457 MW
| Horsepower (hp) | Megawatt (MW) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1 hp | 7.457e-05 MW | Small motor |
| 0.5 hp | 0.0003729 MW | Half hp pump |
| 1 hp | 0.0007457 MW | 1 hp motor |
| 5 hp | 0.003729 MW | 5 hp outboard |
| 10 hp | 0.007457 MW | 10 hp motor |
| 50 hp | 0.03729 MW | Small car engine |
| 100 hp | 0.07457 MW | Compact car |
| 150 hp | 0.1119 MW | Mid-range car |
| 200 hp | 0.1491 MW | Performance car |
| 300 hp | 0.2237 MW | Sports car |
| 500 hp | 0.3729 MW | Supercar |
| 1,000 hp | 0.7457 MW | Race car |
| 1e+04 hp | 7.457 MW | Jet engine fraction |
| 100,000 hp | 74.57 MW | Large ship engine |
| 1,000,000 hp | 745.7 MW | Power plant fraction |
1 hp = 0.0007457 MW. Memorize for instant estimates.
Use 0.001 as a quick mental multiplier.
Multiply result by 1341 to recover the original hp value.
Rates car engine output in horsepower for marketing and performance comparison.
Specifies boat and ship engine power in horsepower for propulsion system design.
Rates pump motor size in horsepower for industrial and agricultural applications.
Sizes compressor motors in horsepower for commercial refrigeration systems.
Compares vehicle performance and evaluates engine modifications in horsepower.
Selects motors and compressors based on horsepower ratings in US specifications.
Horsepower (hp) was defined by James Watt in the 1780s to quantify steam engine output in terms familiar to mine operators who used horses to pump water. One mechanical horsepower equals 550 foot-pounds per second = 745.7 watts.
Horsepower remains the dominant power rating for vehicle engines in the United States, Canada, and the UK. Car engines range from 70 hp (economy) to 700+ hp (sports cars). Electrical motors, pumps, and industrial equipment are often rated in both kW and hp.
Interesting fact: There are multiple horsepower definitions: mechanical hp (745.7 W), metric hp (735.5 W), electrical hp (746 W), and boiler hp (9,810 W). Most automotive usage refers to mechanical hp. A racehorse at full gallop produces about 14–15 hp peak, not 1 hp.
The megawatt (MW) equals 1,000 kW or 1,000,000 watts, and is the standard unit for power plant output, industrial facilities, and large electrical infrastructure.
Power plants are rated in megawatts: a typical nuclear reactor produces 1,000–1,600 MW; a large wind turbine generates 2–14 MW; utility-scale solar farms range from 10 to 2,000 MW. The capacity of a city's electrical grid is measured in megawatts.
Interesting fact: The Hoover Dam generates about 2,080 MW at full capacity. A single lightning bolt releases about 1,000 MW — but only for about 1 microsecond, so the total energy is relatively small.
Converting horsepower to megawatt is common across electrical engineering, automotive, and HVAC industries. Different sectors use different power units — watts and kilowatts in electrical systems, horsepower in automotive and industrial machinery, and BTU/hr in heating and cooling — making accurate conversion essential for international equipment specifications and cross-disciplinary engineering.
Quick reference: 5 hp = 0.003729 MW and 10 hp = 0.007457 MW. Reverse: 1 MW = 1341 hp. Exact factor: 1 hp = 0.0007457 MW.
All conversions use IEEE 754 double-precision arithmetic, accurate to at least 8 significant figures.