Convert Metric Horsepower to Watts
Metric horsepower to watts is the conversion you need when a European engine or motor is rated in PS (also written CV or 'Pferdestärke') and you want the power in plain SI watts. One metric horsepower is exactly 735.49875 watts, so the watt number always comes out much larger.
Metric horsepower (PS) to Watts conversion table
| Metric horsepower (PS) (PS) | Watts (W) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 735.49875 |
| 2 | 1,470.9975 |
| 3 | 2,206.49625 |
| 5 | 3,677.49375 |
| 10 | 7,354.9875 |
| 20 | 14,709.975 |
| 50 | 36,774.9375 |
| 100 | 73,549.875 |
| 500 | 367,749.375 |
| 1,000 | 735,498.75 |
The formula
To convert metric horsepower to watts, multiply the number of metric horsepower by 735.49875:
watts = metric horsepower × 735.49875
A worked example
Say you have a 100 PS engine and want its power in watts:
100 × 735.49875 = 73,549.875 W
So 100 metric horsepower is exactly 73,549.875 watts.
Why the number is exact
Metric horsepower isn't an approximation — it's a defined unit. One metric horsepower (PS, or CV, from the German "Pferdestärke") is defined as exactly 75 kilogram-force meters per second, which comes out to exactly 735.49875 watts. Because the definition fixes the value precisely, converting from metric horsepower to watts is exact, with nothing rounded away.
When you'll use it
Reading power ratings off European car and motorcycle spec sheets, comparing an engine rated in PS against one rated in SI watts or kilowatts, and any time you need the exact SI power behind a metric-horsepower figure.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts are in one metric horsepower?
Exactly 735.49875 watts. Metric horsepower is defined as 75 kgf·m/s, which works out to exactly 735.49875 W — nothing is rounded.
Is metric horsepower the same as the horsepower used in the US?
No. Metric horsepower (PS/CV) is defined as exactly 735.49875 W, while the mechanical horsepower used in the US and UK is about 745.7 W. The metric one is roughly 1.4% smaller, so watch which figure a spec sheet is using.
Is the metric horsepower to watts conversion exact?
Yes. Metric horsepower is defined as exactly 75 kgf·m/s, which is exactly 735.49875 W, so the conversion is exact with nothing rounded away.