How to Convert BTU per hour to Horsepower (BTU/h to hp)
Power conversions help compare car engines in hp and kW, and air-con units rated in BTU/h against their electrical draw in watts. This guide shows how to convert btu per hour into horsepower by hand, with examples and a quick-reference table.
The conversion
To convert btu per hour to horsepower, multiply the value by 0.0003930148. To go the other way, divide by the same number (or multiply by 2,544.4335805646). Because the factor is tiny, scientific notation keeps the numbers manageable.
Horsepower = btu per hour × 0.0003930148
Worked examples
- 3 BTU/h = 0.001179 hp
- 12.5 BTU/h = 0.004913 hp
- 75 BTU/h = 0.029476 hp
BTU per hour to Horsepower table
| BTU per hour | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| 1 BTU/h | 0.000393 hp |
| 2 BTU/h | 0.000786 hp |
| 5 BTU/h | 0.001965 hp |
| 10 BTU/h | 0.00393 hp |
| 20 BTU/h | 0.00786 hp |
| 25 BTU/h | 0.009825 hp |
| 50 BTU/h | 0.019651 hp |
| 100 BTU/h | 0.039301 hp |
| 250 BTU/h | 0.098254 hp |
| 500 BTU/h | 0.196507 hp |
| 1,000 BTU/h | 0.393015 hp |
Common questions
Is BTU/h to hp exact?
The factors used here are the internationally defined values where they exist; results are rounded for display only.
How do I convert back?
Use the Horsepower to BTU per hour converter.
Mistakes to avoid
Mixing similar-sounding units
US and imperial gallons, pints and tons are different sizes, and decimal kilobytes differ from binary kibibytes.
Dropping the units
A bare number without a unit is easy to misread later. Always write the unit with the result.
Forgetting squared and cubed units
Area and volume factors are the length factor squared or cubed, so 1 m² is about 10.76 sq ft, not 3.28.
Background
Writing the units next to every number while you work is the simplest way to avoid mistakes. If the units do not cancel to leave the one you want, the calculation is set up wrongly.
Unit conversion is simply multiplication by a fixed ratio. The ratio between two units of the same quantity never changes, so once you know it you can convert any value in either direction.
Many conversion factors are exact by definition. The inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres since 1959, and the pound as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms, so conversions involving them can be as precise as you need.
For any value, use the BTU per hour to Horsepower Converter or browse all power converters.
Run your own numbers: BTU per hour to Horsepower Converter