Enter the total horsepower, distance, and time into the calculator to determine the equivalent force.

Horsepower to Force Formula

The following equation is used to calculate the force from horsepower.

F= HP*T * 550 / D
  • Where F is the force (lbf)
  • HP is the horsepower (ft-lbf/s)
  • T is the time (s)
  • D is the distance (ft)

To calculate force from horsepower, multiply the horsepower by the time, divide by the distance, then multiply by 500.

Can Force Be Calculated From Horsepower?

A horsepower is a unit of power that is length times force divided by time. Therefore, the force can be calculated from horsepower if both time and distance/length are known.

How to Calculate Force from Horsepower?

Example Problem:

The following example outlines the steps and information needed to calculate force from horsepower.

First, determine the total horsepower. In this example, the total horsepower is 400.

Next, determine the time. The time in this example is 10 seconds.

Next, determine the distance. The distance for this problem is 20 feet.

Finally, calculate the force from horsepower using the formula above:

F= HP*T / 550 / D

F= 400*10 * 550 / 20

F= 110,000 lbf