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kW
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What is a kilowatt?

Car engine and home electrical power unit — 1000 watts

Definition

The kilowatt equals 1000 watts. Car engine outputs in metric countries are usually given in kW; 100 kW ≈ 136 PS. Home electric panels are sized in kW (typical European home: 15–25 kW peak).

Common uses

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

🌍 Real-world scale

Small car: 80 kW. Performance car: 200+ kW. Home peak load: 3–10 kW. Heat pump: 5–15 kW.

Convert from kilowatts

7 conversions
Kilowatt to Watt1 kW = 1,000 WKilowatt to Megawatt1 kW = 0.001 MWKilowatt to Mechanical Horsepower1 kW = 1.34102 hpKilowatt to Metric Horsepower1 kW = 1.35962 PSKilowatt to BTU per Hour1 kW = 3,412.14 BTU/hKilowatt to Foot-Pound per Second1 kW = 737.562 ft·lbf/sKilowatt to Volt-Ampere1 kW = 1,000 VA

Convert to kilowatts

7 conversions
Watt to Kilowatt1 W = 0.001 kWMegawatt to Kilowatt1 MW = 1,000 kWMechanical Horsepower to Kilowatt1 hp = 0.7457 kWMetric Horsepower to Kilowatt1 PS = 0.7355 kWBTU per Hour to Kilowatt1 BTU/h = 0.0002931 kWFoot-Pound per Second to Kilowatt1 ft·lbf/s = 0.001356 kWVolt-Ampere to Kilowatt1 VA = 0.001 kW

Tips

  • 1 kW = 1000 W = 1.34 hp = 1.36 PS.
  • Home electricity contracted capacity often 3–11 kW in EU.
  • Multiply kW × hours = kWh energy consumed.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing kW with kWh — power vs energy.
  • Assuming all hp measurements are identical — PS differs by 1.4%.
  • Exceeding contracted kW limit trips home main breaker.

FAQ about the kilowatt

What is a kilowatt?
The kilowatt equals 1000 watts. Car engine outputs in metric countries are usually given in kW; 100 kW ≈ 136 PS. Home electric panels are sized in kW (typical European home: 15–25 kW peak).
Where is the kilowatt used?
The kilowatt is commonly used for: Car and motorcycle engine ratings (Europe); Home electrical service sizing; HVAC and heating-pump capacity.
What is an example of a kilowatt in real life?
Small car: 80 kW. Performance car: 200+ kW. Home peak load: 3–10 kW. Heat pump: 5–15 kW.
What category does the kilowatt belong to?
The kilowatt is a unit of power, part of the 8-unit power category on UnitConv.
How accurate are kilowatt conversions?
All conversion factors follow NIST and BIPM international standards to 8 significant figures — the highest practical accuracy.
Explore all 8 power units and their conversions.⚡ Power hub →