Guides
Choosing the Right Horsepower Standard
Learn when to use mechanical, metric, or electrical horsepower so your kW to HP conversion matches the specification in front of you.
2026-03-20 by kWs to Horsepower
Different equipment labels use different horsepower standards. Mechanical horsepower is the most common reference for general conversion, while metric horsepower often appears in international motor specs. Electrical horsepower is slightly different again and is mostly useful in specific electrical contexts.
When you convert kW to HP, the multiplier matters:
- Mechanical HP:
1.34102 - Metric HP:
1.35962 - Electrical HP:
1.34048
If you are matching a nameplate, use the same standard shown there. If you are estimating for a general audience, mechanical horsepower is usually the clearest default.