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Watts to kilowatts

Multiply watts by 0.001 to get kilowatts.

1 W = 0.001 kWNIST SP 811
W
5kW

5,000 W = 5 kW

How to convert watts to kilowatts

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

Worked example — 5,000 W: 5,000 × 0.001 = 5 kW.

Watts to kilowatts table

Common conversions. The reverse table is on kilowatts to watts.
WattsKilowatts
100 W0.1 kW
500 W0.5 kW
1,000 W1 kW
2,000 W2 kW
5,000 W5 kW
10,000 W10 kW
50,000 W50 kW
100,000 W100 kW
500,000 W500 kW

Reverse and related

About watts and kilowatts

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

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

Where people use this

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

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

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 kW is 1000 W?

1000 watts is exactly 1 kilowatt.

How many watts make a kW?

It takes 1000 watts to make one kilowatt.

How many kW is 500 W?

500 W is 0.5 kW.

All watt conversions