Engine Horsepower Calculator — Torque × RPM, Wheel vs. Crank HP
Calculate engine horsepower from torque and RPM. Switch units (lb·ft / N·m), estimate drivetrain (wheel vs. crank) losses, and convert between hp and kW. Includes formulas, examples, glossary, and FAQs.
Full original guide (expanded)
Formula (LaTeX) + variables + units
This section shows the formulas used by the calculator engine, plus variable definitions and units.
Formula (extracted LaTeX)
\[P_{\mathrm{hp}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{lb\cdot ft}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{5252}\]
P_{\mathrm{hp}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{lb\cdot ft}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{5252}
Formula (extracted LaTeX)
\[P_{\mathrm{kW}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{N\cdot m}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{9549}\]
P_{\mathrm{kW}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{N\cdot m}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{9549}
Formula (extracted text)
Imperial horsepower (hp) from torque in lb·ft and rotational speed in rpm: \[ P_{\mathrm{hp}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{lb\cdot ft}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{5252} \] where \(5252=\frac{33{,}000~\mathrm{ft\cdot lbf/min}}{2\pi~\mathrm{rad/rev}}\). SI kilowatts from torque in N·m and rpm: \[ P_{\mathrm{kW}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{N\cdot m}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{9549} \] (constant derives from unit conversion \(P=T\omega\) with \(\omega=2\pi n/60\)). Conversions: \(\;1~\mathrm{kW}=1.3410229~\mathrm{hp}\;\) and \(\;1~\mathrm{hp}=0.7456999~\mathrm{kW}\). Drivetrain correction (estimate): if wheel power \(P_w\) and loss fraction \(L\), then crank/bhp \(P_c=\frac{P_w}{1-L}\); conversely \(P_w=P_c(1-L)\).
Variables and units
- No variables provided in audit spec.
Sources (authoritative):
- ISO 1585:2020 — Road vehicles — Engine test code — Net power — iso.org · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://www.iso.org/standard/70078.html - Home — calcdomain.com · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://calcdomain.com/ - Everyday Life — calcdomain.com · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://calcdomain.com/lifestyle-everyday - Automotive — calcdomain.com · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://calcdomain.com/subcategories/automotive - SAE J1349 horsepower definition — en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower
Changelog
Version: 0.1.0-draft
Last code update: 2026-01-19
Last code update: 2026-01-19
0.1.0-draft · 2026-01-19
- Initial audit spec draft generated from HTML extraction (review required).
- Verify formulas match the calculator engine and convert any text-only formulas to LaTeX.
- Confirm sources are authoritative and relevant to the calculator methodology.
Formula (LaTeX) + variables + units
This section shows the formulas used by the calculator engine, plus variable definitions and units.
Formula (extracted LaTeX)
\[P_{\mathrm{hp}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{lb\cdot ft}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{5252}\]
P_{\mathrm{hp}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{lb\cdot ft}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{5252}
Formula (extracted LaTeX)
\[P_{\mathrm{kW}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{N\cdot m}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{9549}\]
P_{\mathrm{kW}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{N\cdot m}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{9549}
Formula (extracted text)
Imperial horsepower (hp) from torque in lb·ft and rotational speed in rpm: \[ P_{\mathrm{hp}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{lb\cdot ft}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{5252} \] where \(5252=\frac{33{,}000~\mathrm{ft\cdot lbf/min}}{2\pi~\mathrm{rad/rev}}\). SI kilowatts from torque in N·m and rpm: \[ P_{\mathrm{kW}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{N\cdot m}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{9549} \] (constant derives from unit conversion \(P=T\omega\) with \(\omega=2\pi n/60\)). Conversions: \(\;1~\mathrm{kW}=1.3410229~\mathrm{hp}\;\) and \(\;1~\mathrm{hp}=0.7456999~\mathrm{kW}\). Drivetrain correction (estimate): if wheel power \(P_w\) and loss fraction \(L\), then crank/bhp \(P_c=\frac{P_w}{1-L}\); conversely \(P_w=P_c(1-L)\).
Variables and units
- No variables provided in audit spec.
Sources (authoritative):
- ISO 1585:2020 — Road vehicles — Engine test code — Net power — iso.org · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://www.iso.org/standard/70078.html - Home — calcdomain.com · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://calcdomain.com/ - Everyday Life — calcdomain.com · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://calcdomain.com/lifestyle-everyday - Automotive — calcdomain.com · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://calcdomain.com/subcategories/automotive - SAE J1349 horsepower definition — en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower
Changelog
Version: 0.1.0-draft
Last code update: 2026-01-19
Last code update: 2026-01-19
0.1.0-draft · 2026-01-19
- Initial audit spec draft generated from HTML extraction (review required).
- Verify formulas match the calculator engine and convert any text-only formulas to LaTeX.
- Confirm sources are authoritative and relevant to the calculator methodology.
Formula (LaTeX) + variables + units
This section shows the formulas used by the calculator engine, plus variable definitions and units.
Formula (extracted LaTeX)
\[P_{\mathrm{hp}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{lb\cdot ft}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{5252}\]
P_{\mathrm{hp}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{lb\cdot ft}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{5252}
Formula (extracted LaTeX)
\[P_{\mathrm{kW}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{N\cdot m}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{9549}\]
P_{\mathrm{kW}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{N\cdot m}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{9549}
Formula (extracted text)
Imperial horsepower (hp) from torque in lb·ft and rotational speed in rpm: \[ P_{\mathrm{hp}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{lb\cdot ft}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{5252} \] where \(5252=\frac{33{,}000~\mathrm{ft\cdot lbf/min}}{2\pi~\mathrm{rad/rev}}\). SI kilowatts from torque in N·m and rpm: \[ P_{\mathrm{kW}}=\frac{T_{\mathrm{N\cdot m}}\cdot n_{\mathrm{rpm}}}{9549} \] (constant derives from unit conversion \(P=T\omega\) with \(\omega=2\pi n/60\)). Conversions: \(\;1~\mathrm{kW}=1.3410229~\mathrm{hp}\;\) and \(\;1~\mathrm{hp}=0.7456999~\mathrm{kW}\). Drivetrain correction (estimate): if wheel power \(P_w\) and loss fraction \(L\), then crank/bhp \(P_c=\frac{P_w}{1-L}\); conversely \(P_w=P_c(1-L)\).
Variables and units
- No variables provided in audit spec.
Sources (authoritative):
- ISO 1585:2020 — Road vehicles — Engine test code — Net power — iso.org · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://www.iso.org/standard/70078.html - Home — calcdomain.com · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://calcdomain.com/ - Everyday Life — calcdomain.com · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://calcdomain.com/lifestyle-everyday - Automotive — calcdomain.com · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://calcdomain.com/subcategories/automotive - SAE J1349 horsepower definition — en.wikipedia.org · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower
Changelog
Version: 0.1.0-draft
Last code update: 2026-01-19
Last code update: 2026-01-19
0.1.0-draft · 2026-01-19
- Initial audit spec draft generated from HTML extraction (review required).
- Verify formulas match the calculator engine and convert any text-only formulas to LaTeX.
- Confirm sources are authoritative and relevant to the calculator methodology.