Kilowatts to watts

Multiply kilowatts by 1,000 to get watts.

1 kW = 1,000 WNIST SP 811

Convert

5,000W

5 kW = 5,000 W

How to convert kilowatts to watts

The watt is the SI unit of power, one joule per second. The kilowatt is one thousand watts — the metric unit for engine and appliance power.

Worked example — 5 kW: 5 × 1,000 = 5,000 W.

Kilowatts to watts table

Common conversions. The reverse table is on watts to kilowatts.
Kilowatts	Watts
0.1 kW	100 W
0.5 kW	500 W
1 kW	1,000 W
2 kW	2,000 W
5 kW	5,000 W
10 kW	10,000 W
50 kW	50,000 W
100 kW	100,000 W
500 kW	500,000 W

Reverse and related

watts → kilowattsreverse conversion kW → hp1 kW = 1.341 hp hp → kW1 hp = 0.7457 kW W → hp1 W = 0.00134102 hp BTU/h → kW1 BTU/h = 0.000293071 kW kW → BTU/h1 kW = 3,412.1416 BTU/h MW → kW1 MW = 1,000 kW

About kilowatts and watts

Kilowatt (kW)

1 kW = 1,000 W

Definition. One thousand watts — the metric unit for engine and appliance power

History and origin

The kilowatt is one thousand watts, a metric multiple of the SI power unit. It gives practical numbers for engines and appliances.

Current use

Kilowatts rate car engines outside the United States, large appliances and electric-vehicle charging.

Source: NIST SP 811, App. B (power). Mechanical hp = 550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 745.70 W; metric hp (PS) = 75 kgf·m/s = 735.49875 W

Watt (W)

1 W = 0.001 kW

Definition. The SI unit of power, one joule per second

History and origin

The watt is the SI unit of power, one joule per second, named after James Watt for his work on the steam engine. It measures the rate at which energy is used or produced.

Current use

Watts rate light bulbs, appliances and solar panels the world over.

Source: NIST SP 811, App. B (power). Mechanical hp = 550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 745.70 W; metric hp (PS) = 75 kgf·m/s = 735.49875 W

Where people use this

Kilowatts: car engines outside the US, appliances, EV charging. Watts: light bulbs, appliances, solar panels. 1 kW is exactly 1000 W.

How we know this is right

The factor is fixed by the standards that define the units, not chosen — so it is exact, not a measurement:

1 W = 0.001 kW, so 1 kW = 1 ÷ 0.001 = 1,000 W.

Every value is carried to full double precision; the display is rounded.

Both units are defined in NIST SP 811, App. B (power). Mechanical hp = 550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 745.70 W; metric hp (PS) = 75 kgf·m/s = 735.49875 W.

Questions people ask

How many watts in a kilowatt?

One kilowatt is exactly 1000 watts.

How many watts is 2 kW?

2 kW is 2000 watts.

How many watts is 0.5 kW?

Half a kilowatt is 500 watts.

All kilowatt conversions

Horsepower to kilowatts1 hp = 0.7457 kW Kilowatts to horsepower1 kW = 1.341 hp BTU per hour to kilowatts1 BTU/h = 0.000293071 kW Kilowatts to BTU per hour1 kW = 3,412.1416 BTU/h Megawatts to kilowatts1 MW = 1,000 kW Watts to kilowatts1 W = 0.001 kW