Convert Mechanical Horsepower to Megawatt (hp → MW)
Horsepower is the American and British unit for car engines, motorcycles, and traditional mechanical power ratings.
Mechanical Horsepower to Megawatt Conversion Table
10 common values| Mechanical Horsepower | Megawatt |
|---|---|
| 1 hp | 0.000746 MW |
| 5 hp | 0.003728 MW |
| 10 hp | 0.007457 MW |
| 50 hp | 0.037285 MW |
| 100 hp | 0.07457 MW |
| 500 hp | 0.37285 MW |
| 1,000 hp | 0.7457 MW |
| 5,000 hp | 3.728499 MW |
| 10,000 hp | 7.456999 MW |
| 50,000 hp | 37.284994 MW |
How to Convert Mechanical Horsepower to Megawatt Manually
Step by StepConverting mechanical horsepower to megawatts is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.
- 1Take your value in mechanical horsepowerStart with the number of mechanical horsepower (hp) you want to convert.
- 2Multiply by 0.000746The conversion factor from hp to MW is 0.000746. Multiply your value by this number.
- 3Read the result in megawattsThe result is your value in megawatts (MW).
Formula
Multiply the value in mechanical horsepower by 0.000746. For the reverse direction, multiply by 1,341.0221.
MW = hp × 0.000746hp = MW × 1,341.0221Tips
Use these in everyday conversions- 1 hp = 745.7 W = 0.7457 kW.
- US car ads quote hp; European ads quote kW or PS.
- Metric horsepower (PS) differs by ~1.4% — be aware.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these- Assuming hp and PS are identical — 1.4% difference.
- Using horsepower for electrical devices — watts more appropriate.
- Confusing horsepower at engine flywheel vs wheel (transmission losses).
About Mechanical Horsepower and Megawatt
What is the Mechanical Horsepower?
Horsepower (hp) equals exactly 745.6998715822702 watts (mechanical horsepower) and is the American and British unit for car engines, motorcycles, motorboats, and traditional mechanical power ratings. James Watt invented the unit in the 1780s to market his steam engines: he calculated that a brewery horse could continuously turn a mill wheel at 33,000 ft·lb per minute, which became 1 horsepower. American cars typically range from 150 hp (economy) to 700 hp (sports cars), pickup trucks 250–500 hp, and large diesel trucks 400–600 hp. Outside the US, the metric horsepower (PS or CV, equal to 735.5 W — about 1.4% smaller than mechanical hp) is sometimes used. Horsepower relates to the watt (1 hp ≈ 745.7 W), the kilowatt (1 hp ≈ 0.746 kW), and the metric horsepower (1 hp ≈ 1.014 PS). Despite SI's preference for the watt, horsepower remains entrenched in automotive marketing.
- US car and motorcycle engine ratings
- Lawn mower and small engine specs
- US pump and compressor ratings
Base Ford Mustang: ~310 hp. Lawn mower: 5 hp. Average car: 150–200 hp.
What is the Megawatt?
The megawatt equals 1,000,000 watts (or 1,000 kW) and rates power plants, large industrial facilities, and grid-scale renewable installations worldwide. A typical natural-gas turbine generates 50–500 MW, a nuclear reactor produces 800–1,600 MW, and the largest hydroelectric plant (Three Gorges Dam in China) has 22,500 MW capacity. Wind turbines are rated 1.5–15 MW each (modern offshore turbines reach 14 MW). Solar farms range from 50 MW (small) to 1,500+ MW (large utility-scale projects). Electric grid demand for entire countries is measured in gigawatts (1 GW = 1,000 MW): the United States peaks at about 750 GW. The megawatt relates to the kilowatt (1,000 kW = 1 MW), the gigawatt (1,000 MW = 1 GW), and the megawatt-hour (when multiplied by time). Electricity wholesale markets bid in MW capacity and MWh energy.
- Power-station electrical output
- Wind and solar farm capacity
- Large industrial electricity consumption
Large wind turbine: 5–15 MW. Nuclear reactor: 1000 MW. London's peak demand: ~6000 MW.