Convert Metric Horsepower to Watt (PS → W)

Converting metric horsepower to watts 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 metric horsepower

   Start with the number of metric horsepower (PS) you want to convert.
2. 2
   Multiply by 735.49875

   The conversion factor from PS to W is 735.49875. Multiply your value by this number.
3. 3
   Read the result in watts

   The result is your value in watts (W).

Multiply the value in metric horsepower by 735.49875. For the reverse direction, multiply by 0.00136.

• ✓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.

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

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

What is the Watt?

The watt is the SI unit of power, equal to one joule per second (1 W = 1 J/s). Named after Scottish engineer James Watt (1736–1819), whose improvements to the steam engine sparked the Industrial Revolution, the watt unifies mechanical, electrical, and thermal power. A typical LED bulb consumes 8–12 W to produce as much light as a 60-W incandescent bulb. Human resting metabolism is about 80–100 W of heat output, while peak athletic performance reaches 400–1,500 W (briefly). The watt is fundamental in electrical engineering: P = V × I (power = voltage × current). It relates to the kilowatt (1 kW = 1,000 W), the megawatt (1 MW = 10⁶ W), horsepower (1 hp ≈ 745.7 W), and the BTU per hour (1 W ≈ 3.412 BTU/h). Light bulb and appliance ratings, electric motor outputs, and audio amplifier specifications all use the watt as the base unit.

• Light-bulb and appliance ratings
• Scientific and engineering power specs
• Radio and electronics power