Calculate apparent input power, shaft or electrical real power, or power factor. Use motor efficiency for shaft output, with hp, kW, kVA and MVA units.

Quick conversion defaults to ideal 100% motor efficiency. Enter power and power factor; open Motor efficiency to use a known value.

HP ↔ kVA Conversion Table (PF = 0.8, ideal 100% efficiency)
Horsepower (HP) to kVA kVA to Horsepower (HP)
1 hp ≈ 0.932 kVA5 kVA ≈ 5.364 hp
2 hp ≈ 1.864 kVA10 kVA ≈ 10.728 hp
5 hp ≈ 4.661 kVA15 kVA ≈ 16.092 hp
7.5 hp ≈ 6.991 kVA20 kVA ≈ 21.456 hp
10 hp ≈ 9.321 kVA25 kVA ≈ 26.820 hp
15 hp ≈ 13.982 kVA30 kVA ≈ 32.185 hp
20 hp ≈ 18.642 kVA40 kVA ≈ 42.913 hp
30 hp ≈ 27.964 kVA50 kVA ≈ 53.641 hp
50 hp ≈ 46.606 kVA75 kVA ≈ 80.461 hp
100 hp ≈ 93.212 kVA100 kVA ≈ 107.282 hp
Ideal-efficiency formulas: kVA = (hp × 0.7456998715822702) ÷ PF and hp = (kVA × PF) ÷ 0.7456998715822702. PF = 0.8; table entries rounded to 3 decimals. For shaft power at efficiency η, divide the first formula by η and multiply the second by η (η as a fraction).
HP ↔ kVA Conversion Table (PF = 0.9, ideal 100% efficiency)
Horsepower (HP) to kVA kVA to Horsepower (HP)
1.5 hp ≈ 1.243 kVA10 kVA ≈ 12.069 hp
3 hp ≈ 2.486 kVA20 kVA ≈ 24.138 hp
7.5 hp ≈ 6.214 kVA30 kVA ≈ 36.208 hp
10 hp ≈ 8.286 kVA45 kVA ≈ 54.311 hp
25 hp ≈ 20.714 kVA60 kVA ≈ 72.415 hp
40 hp ≈ 33.142 kVA75 kVA ≈ 90.519 hp
60 hp ≈ 49.713 kVA100 kVA ≈ 120.692 hp
75 hp ≈ 62.142 kVA125 kVA ≈ 150.865 hp
150 hp ≈ 124.283 kVA150 kVA ≈ 181.038 hp
200 hp ≈ 165.711 kVA200 kVA ≈ 241.384 hp
Ideal-efficiency formulas: kVA = (hp × 0.7456998715822702) ÷ PF and hp = (kVA × PF) ÷ 0.7456998715822702. PF = 0.9; table entries rounded to 3 decimals. For shaft power at efficiency η, divide the first formula by η and multiply the second by η (η as a fraction).

HP to kVA Formula

For motor shaft output, use efficiency η as a fraction from greater than 0 to 1. For electrical real input expressed in hp equivalent, use η = 1.

kVA = (Hp × 0.7456998715822702) / (PF × eta)

Variables:

  • kVA is the apparent power in kilovolt-amperes
  • Hp is motor shaft power in mechanical horsepower, or electrical real input in equivalent mechanical hp
  • PF is electrical real input (kW) divided by apparent input (kVA); η is motor efficiency as a fraction

Multiply mechanical horsepower by 0.7456998715822702, then divide by power factor and motor efficiency. For electrical real input, omit the efficiency division.

What is Horsepower to kVA Conversion?

Horsepower to kVA conversion is the process of converting the power output of an engine or motor (measured in horsepower) to the apparent power (measured in kilovolt-amperes). Power factor relates electrical real input to apparent input. Motor efficiency relates shaft output to electrical real input. This steady-state estimate does not include motor starting demand and cannot by itself size a supply.

How to Calculate HP to kVA?

The following steps outline how to calculate the HP to kVA.

  1. First, determine the horsepower (Hp) of the motor or engine.
  2. Next, determine the power factor (PF) and, for shaft output, motor efficiency at the operating load.
  3. Next, calculate the kVA using the formula kVA = (Hp * 0.7456998715822702) / (PF * eta).
  4. Finally, verify the calculated kVA with the given values.
  5. After inserting the values and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Horsepower (Hp) = 10

Power Factor (PF) = 0.8; motor efficiency η = 1 (ideal 100%)

kVA = (10 × 0.7456998715822702) / (0.8 × 1) ≈ 9.321 kVA. At 90% efficiency, the same shaft power requires ≈ 10.357 kVA.