How many metric horsepowers are in 1 horsepower?

1 horsepower equals 1.013869665 metric horsepowers, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.

How do I convert horsepower to metric horsepower?

Multiply the horsepower value by 1.013869665. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.

How do I convert metric horsepower back to horsepower?

Use the reverse factor: 1 metric horsepower equals 0.9863200706 horsepowers. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.

Is the horsepower to metric horsepower conversion exact?

Yes. Metric horsepower (PS/CV) is defined as exactly 735.49875 watts, the power to raise 75 kilograms one meter per second. That fixed definition is what the converter above uses, so any rounding you see is a display choice, not a limitation of the math.

Horsepowers to Metric horsepowers Converter

Q: What is a horsepower?

Horsepower (hp) measures power. Mechanical horsepower is defined as exactly 745.6998715822702 watts. It is classified as a US/imperial customary unit.

Q: What is a metric horsepower?

Metric horsepower (PS) measures power. Metric horsepower (PS/CV) is defined as exactly 735.49875 watts, the power to raise 75 kilograms one meter per second. It is classified as a Non-SI unit (metric, automotive).

About Converting Horsepowers to Metric horsepowers

Horsepower and Metric horsepower both describe power output, and the conversion is a routine part of comparing an engine or motor's spec sheet across countries that use different power units. Horsepower is typically associated with united States and United Kingdom (vehicle and engine specifications), while Metric horsepower is typically associated with continental Europe, Japan, and other metric-system automotive markets.

Formula

metric horsepowers = horsepowers × 1.01386966542

This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 horsepower equals 745.699871582 base units, and 1 metric horsepower equals 735.49875 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct horsepower-to-metric horsepower factor of 1.01386966542.

Simple example

1 hp × 1.013869665 = 1.013869665 PS

1 horsepower = 1.013869665 metric horsepowers.

Real-world example

100 hp × 1.013869665 = 101.3869665 PS

100 horsepowers = 101.3869665 metric horsepowers.

Conversion table

Horsepower (hp)	Metric horsepower (PS)
1 hp	1.013869665 PS
10 hp	10.13869665 PS
100 hp	101.3869665 PS
500 hp	506.9348327 PS
1,000 hp	1,013.869665 PS
5,000 hp	5,069.348327 PS

Reverse conversion: Metric horsepower to Horsepower

1.013869665 PS × 0.9863200706 = 0.9999999996 hp

1.013869665 metric horsepowers = 0.9999999996 horsepowers.

horsepowers = metric horsepowers × 0.98632007062

For a page dedicated to this direction, see Metric horsepower to Horsepower.

Horsepower vs. Metric horsepower

Aspect	Horsepower	Metric horsepower
Family	US/imperial customary unit	Non-SI unit (metric, automotive)
Typical use	US and UK vehicle engine power ratings	European and Japanese vehicle engine power ratings (often shown as PS or CV)
Where it's used	United States and United Kingdom (vehicle and engine specifications)	Continental Europe, Japan, and other metric-system automotive markets

Understanding the Horsepower

Horsepower (hp) measures power. Mechanical horsepower is defined as exactly 745.6998715822702 watts. It is classified as a US/imperial customary unit.

Where it's used: United States and United Kingdom (vehicle and engine specifications)

Mechanical horsepower vs. metric horsepower. Mechanical horsepower (745.7 W) and metric horsepower/PS (735.5 W) differ by about 1.4% — a US car spec sheet in 'hp' and a European one in 'PS' are not directly comparable numbers without conversion.

Uses of the Horsepower today

US and UK vehicle engine power ratings
Motor and engine specifications in English-speaking markets

History of the Horsepower

James Watt popularized horsepower in the 1780s as a marketing figure, comparing his steam engines' output to the working capacity of a horse (based on his estimate of a horse turning a mill), so buyers could grasp engine capability in familiar terms. The unit stuck long after its origin as a sales tool, eventually being formally defined at exactly 550 foot-pounds per second.

Historical origin. Horsepower was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.

Understanding the Metric horsepower

Metric horsepower (PS) measures power. Metric horsepower (PS/CV) is defined as exactly 735.49875 watts, the power to raise 75 kilograms one meter per second. It is classified as a Non-SI unit (metric, automotive).

Where it's used: Continental Europe, Japan, and other metric-system automotive markets

Uses of the Metric horsepower today

European and Japanese vehicle engine power ratings (often shown as PS or CV)
Motor and machinery power specifications in metric countries

History of the Metric horsepower

Metric horsepower emerged in continental Europe in the 19th century as engineers sought a metric-system analog to Watt's English horsepower, defining it via a round figure (75 kgf·m/s) convenient in metric calculations. It remains the standard automotive power unit across much of Europe and Asia, labeled PS (German 'Pferdestärke') or CV (French/Italian 'cheval-vapeur').

Historical origin. Metric horsepower was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.

Horsepower — sources

NIST Special Publication 811 — Documents the exact watt-equivalence of mechanical horsepower.

Metric horsepower — sources

NIST Special Publication 811 — Documents the exact watt-equivalence of metric horsepower.

Horsepowers to Metric horsepowers Converter — hp to PS

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