Power Converter
Instantly convert between different units of power.
Why Use This Tool? ✅
Fast & Accurate
Get high-precision conversions in real-time based on standardized conversion factors.
Supports All Major Units
Easily convert between metric (watts), mechanical (horsepower), and thermal (BTU/h) units.
Perfect for Multiple Fields
An essential tool for engineers, electricians, physicists, and HVAC technicians.
Beginner-Friendly
A simple, clean interface that makes converting any unit of power quick and easy.
The Measure of Energy Transfer: A Guide to Power Units ⚡
In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred or work is done. It's a measure of how quickly energy is used. For example, a high-power engine can perform work more quickly than a low-power one. Because power is such a fundamental concept in science and engineering, various units have been developed to measure it in different contexts.
The SI Unit: Watt (W)
The standard international (SI) unit for power is the Watt (W), named after the 18th-century Scottish inventor James Watt. One watt is defined as one joule of energy per second. The watt and its metric multiples, the kilowatt (kW) and megawatt (MW), are used universally in electrical engineering and scientific applications.
Mechanical and Thermal Units
- Horsepower (hp): One of the most famous units of power, horsepower was originally conceived by James Watt to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses. There are several types, but the most common is mechanical horsepower, which is approximately 745.7 watts. It's still widely used for rating engines and motors.
- BTU per hour (BTU/h): The British Thermal Unit per hour is an imperial unit of power used primarily in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry to describe the rate of heat transfer.
- Foot-pound per second (ft·lbf/s): Another imperial unit, this represents the power required to lift a one-pound weight by one foot in one second.
Why is Conversion Important?
The diversity of power units makes a reliable converter essential. An automotive engineer working with horsepower needs to communicate with an electrical engineer working in kilowatts. An HVAC technician specifying a system in BTU/h might need to convert to watts to assess its electrical consumption. This tool provides a seamless bridge between all these different units, ensuring accurate communication and calculations across all fields.