Convert Foot-Pound per Second to Kilowatt (ft·lbf/s → kW)

Converting foot-pounds per second to kilowatts is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.

1. 1
   Take your value in foot-pounds per second

   Start with the number of foot-pounds per second (ft·lbf/s) you want to convert.
2. 2
   Multiply by 0.001356

   The conversion factor from ft·lbf/s to kW is 0.001356. Multiply your value by this number.
3. 3
   Read the result in kilowatts

   The result is your value in kilowatts (kW).

Multiply the value in foot-pounds per second by 0.001356. For the reverse direction, multiply by 737.56215.

• ✓1 ft·lbf/s = 1.356 W.
• ✓550 ft·lbf/s = 1 mechanical hp.
• ✓Rarely needed today outside archival references.

• ✗Confusing ft·lbf/s (power) with ft·lbf (torque or work).
• ✗Using in modern specifications — prefer W or kW.
• ✗Mixing with foot-pound (energy) in same calculation.

What is the Foot-Pound per Second?

The foot-pound per second (ft·lb/s) is the American mechanical-power unit, used in engineering and machine-rating contexts. James Watt's original definition of 1 horsepower was 33,000 ft·lb/min = 550 ft·lb/s, so the foot-pound per second is the granular American power unit underlying horsepower calculations. It is rare in everyday use (kW or hp dominate American power specifications) but appears in engineering thermodynamics textbooks, mechanical-design calculations, and ballistics-energy contexts. The ft·lb/s relates to the watt (1 ft·lb/s ≈ 1.356 W), horsepower (550 ft·lb/s = 1 hp), and the BTU per hour (1 ft·lb/s ≈ 4.626 BTU/h). It is part of the legacy US customary unit system that retains a foothold in mechanical engineering despite metric advancement.

• Older US mechanical-engineering calculations
• Some US physics textbooks
• Classical-mechanics problems

What is the Kilowatt?

The kilowatt equals 1,000 watts and is the standard power rating for European cars, household appliances, and small industrial motors. European car engines are rated in kW (a typical economy car has 70–110 kW, a sports car 200–500 kW), even though horsepower is often quoted alongside for marketing. Major household appliances range from 1–3 kW (electric kettle, microwave) to 5–10 kW (electric oven, central air conditioning). Solar panel arrays for homes are sized in kW (typical residential system: 5–10 kW). Electric motors in industry are commonly rated 1 to 500 kW. The kilowatt relates to the watt (1,000 W = 1 kW), the megawatt (1,000 kW = 1 MW), horsepower (1 kW ≈ 1.341 hp), the BTU per hour (1 kW ≈ 3,412 BTU/h), and the kWh of energy when multiplied by hours.

• Car and motorcycle engine ratings (Europe)
• Home electrical service sizing
• HVAC and heating-pump capacity