BTU/hour to Metric Horsepower (PS) Converter
Enter a value to instantly convert between power units.
1 BTU/hour = 0.0004 Horsepower (metric)
Key Formulas
Kilowatt → Horsepower (mech)
hp = kW × 1.34102Horsepower (mech) → Kilowatt
kW = hp × 0.7457Watt → Kilowatt
kW = W × 0.001Kilowatt → Watt
W = kW × 1000Formula
PS = BTU/h ÷ 2509.63European mechanical engineers comparing HVAC thermal capacity to motor power ratings sometimes need to convert BTU/h to PS. This is less common than BTU/h to kW, but appears in older European engineering references and when working with legacy equipment specified in PS. A commercial refrigeration compressor drive rated in PS can be compared to the system's BTU/h cooling requirement using this conversion.
Source: NIST SP 811, Table B.8
Last reviewed: · see our methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
Real-World Examples
2,510 BTU/h = 1 PS of thermal power — the anchor point for this cross-unit comparison in European mechanical engineering.
2510 BTU/h = 1 PS
A 12,000 BTU/h (1-ton) HVAC compressor requires about 4.78 PS of drive — used to match European motor catalogues to North American cooling specs.
12000 BTU/h = 4.78 PS
A 25,000 BTU/h refrigeration unit = 9.96 PS — close to a 10 PS standard motor frame size in European catalogues.
25000 BTU/h = 9.96 PS
A 50,000 BTU/h commercial chiller = 19.92 PS — approximately a 20 PS drive motor for the compressor.
50000 BTU/h = 19.92 PS