Convert Watts to Metric Horsepower
Watts to metric horsepower is the conversion you need when a European spec sheet quotes power in PS (also written CV) but you have the figure in watts. Metric horsepower is the horsepower used across most of Europe. One watt is approximately 0.00135962 metric horsepower, so the PS figure always comes out much smaller.
Watts to Metric horsepower (PS) conversion table
| Watts (W) | Metric horsepower (PS) (PS) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.00136 |
| 2 | 0.002719 |
| 3 | 0.004079 |
| 5 | 0.006798 |
| 10 | 0.013596 |
| 20 | 0.027192 |
| 50 | 0.067981 |
| 100 | 0.135962 |
| 500 | 0.679811 |
| 1,000 | 1.359622 |
The formula
To convert watts to metric horsepower, multiply the number of watts by 0.00135962:
metric horsepower = watts × 0.00135962
A worked example
Say an engine is rated at 735.5 watts and you want it in metric horsepower:
735.5 W ≈ 1 PS
So about 735.5 watts is roughly one metric horsepower.
Why it's an approximation
Metric horsepower (PS) isn't defined from the watt — it comes from an older measure of 75 kilogram-force meters of work per second. When you line that up against the watt, the numbers don't divide evenly, so one watt works out to approximately 0.00135962 PS. More decimal places give you more precision if you need it, but the figure stays approximate.
One thing to watch: this is metric horsepower (PS, also written CV), the unit on most European spec sheets. It is not the same as mechanical (imperial) horsepower, hp, the one on US and UK car specs — that unit is slightly larger, and the two differ by about 1.4 percent. Check which horsepower a rating means before you compare.
When you'll use it
Reading power on European car, motorcycle, and machinery spec sheets that quote PS or CV, and lining those figures up against a wattage or against the imperial horsepower used elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
How many metric horsepower are in a watt?
About 0.00135962 PS. It's a rounded figure — the exact value runs on past several decimal places, so 0.00135962 is the practical number to use.
How is metric horsepower different from regular horsepower?
Metric horsepower (PS or CV) is the European unit, where 1 PS is about 735.5 watts. Mechanical (imperial) horsepower — the hp on US and UK car specs — is about 745.7 watts. The two differ by roughly 1.4 percent, so a PS figure isn't quite the same as an hp figure.
Is the watts to metric horsepower conversion exact?
No. Metric horsepower is defined from kilogram-force meters per second, which doesn't divide evenly into watts, so the factor 0.00135962 is rounded for everyday use.