Convert Metric Horsepower to BTU per Hour (PS → BTU/h)

The Pferdestärke (PS) is the metric horsepower unit used in European car marketing and engine specifications.

Metric Horsepower

BTU per Hour

2,509.6259

1 PS2,509.6259 BTU/hNIST · BIPM accuracy

Metric Horsepower to BTU per Hour Conversion Table

10 common values

Metric Horsepower	BTU per Hour
1 PS	2,509.6259 BTU/h
5 PS	12,548.13 BTU/h
10 PS	25,096.259 BTU/h
50 PS	125,481.3 BTU/h
100 PS	250,962.59 BTU/h
500 PS	1,254,813 BTU/h
1,000 PS	2,509,625.9 BTU/h
5,000 PS	12,548,130 BTU/h
10,000 PS	25,096,259 BTU/h
50,000 PS	125,481,300 BTU/h

How to Convert Metric Horsepower to BTU per Hour Manually

Step by Step

Converting metric horsepower to BTU per hour is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.

1
Take your value in metric horsepower
Start with the number of metric horsepower (PS) you want to convert.
2
Multiply by 2,509.6259
The conversion factor from PS to BTU/h is 2,509.6259. Multiply your value by this number.
3
Read the result in BTU per hour
The result is your value in BTU per hour (BTU/h).

Practical Examples

1 PS

equals

2,509.6259 BTU/h

5 PS

equals

12,548.13 BTU/h

10 PS

equals

25,096.259 BTU/h

25 PS

equals

62,740.648 BTU/h

100 PS

equals

250,962.59 BTU/h

Formula

Multiply the value in metric horsepower by 2,509.6259. For the reverse direction, multiply by 0.000398.

ForwardBTU/h = PS × 2,509.6259

ReversePS = BTU/h × 0.000398

Example: 10 PS × 2,509.6259 = 25,096.259 BTU/h

Tips

Use these in everyday conversions

1 PS = 735.5 W = 0.9863 hp.
PS is ~1.4% smaller than mechanical hp.
Look for "PS" in German car brochures; "ch" in French.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these

Treating PS and hp as equal — 1.4% off.
Using PS in US markets — unfamiliar to consumers.
Mixing PS and kW without conversion.

About Metric Horsepower and BTU per Hour

What is the Metric Horsepower?

The Pferdestärke (PS), also called metric horsepower or 'cheval vapeur' (CV) in French, equals exactly 735.49875 watts — about 1.4% smaller than mechanical horsepower. Defined as the power needed to lift 75 kg by 1 meter in 1 second under standard gravity, the PS is the European traditional power unit for car engines. German, French, Italian, and Japanese car manufacturers historically rated engines in PS, and the unit persists in marketing — '300 PS' sounds slightly higher than '300 hp' to consumers. EU regulations require power to be specified primarily in kW, with PS allowed as a secondary unit. The PS relates to the watt (1 PS ≈ 735.5 W), the kilowatt (1 PS ≈ 0.7355 kW), and the mechanical horsepower (1 PS ≈ 0.9863 hp). The slight difference between PS and hp is mostly imperceptible in casual use but noticeable in precise engineering specifications.

European car and motorcycle ratings
Italian and German engine specs
Some European industrial equipment

Real-world examples

VW Golf GTI: ~245 PS = 180 kW. BMW M3: ~480 PS = 353 kW.

What is the BTU per Hour?

BTU per hour (BTU/h or BTUh) is the standard rating for American heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration system capacity. A window air conditioner is typically 5,000–12,000 BTU/h, central residential AC ranges 24,000–60,000 BTU/h, and commercial chillers reach 100,000–1,000,000+ BTU/h. The unit's persistence in HVAC reflects American engineering tradition: it directly links cooling/heating capacity to the BTU energy unit familiar in gas-fired equipment. 12,000 BTU/h equals 'one ton of refrigeration' (a unit derived from the heat needed to melt 1 ton of ice in 24 hours), so AC sizes are sometimes given in 'tons' (a 3-ton AC = 36,000 BTU/h). BTU/h relates to the watt (1 W ≈ 3.412 BTU/h), the kilowatt (1 kW ≈ 3,412 BTU/h), and the ton of refrigeration (12,000 BTU/h = 1 ton). Outside the US, kW is dominant for HVAC capacity.