BHP to HP Converter
Convert brake horsepower (BHP) to horsepower (HP) instantly, and see why the two units are actually equivalent. Enter an engine power value below for a clear, worked breakdown.
Power Conversion Details
Enter a value and choose the conversion direction
Choose which unit you’re converting from.
Enter the engine power value you want to convert.
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Conversion Result
Your converted power value and full working
Enter a power value above, then click Convert Power to see the result in your chosen unit.
Why BHP and HP Are Numerically Equal
BHP (brake horsepower) isn’t a separate unit from HP, it’s the same imperial horsepower unit, just measured a specific way: at the engine’s output shaft using a dynamometer (“brake”), rather than elsewhere in the drivetrain.
Since both are the same imperial mechanical horsepower unit, the value doesn’t change, only the measurement context does.
The reverse conversion is likewise a 1:1 relationship. Differences you see quoted usually come from where power was measured, not the unit itself.
Common BHP to HP Values
Since BHP and imperial HP are the same unit, the values below are identical, useful as a quick sanity check, and shown alongside metric horsepower (PS) for comparison.
| Brake Horsepower (BHP) | Horsepower (HP) | Metric Horsepower (PS) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 BHP | 50 HP | 50.70 PS |
| 100 BHP | 100 HP | 101.39 PS |
| 150 BHP | 150 HP | 152.09 PS |
| 200 BHP | 200 HP | 202.78 PS |
| 300 BHP | 300 HP | 304.17 PS |
| 500 BHP | 500 HP | 506.95 PS |
BHP to HP FAQ
Everything you need to know about the relationship between brake horsepower and horsepower.
Yes, in the imperial system BHP (brake horsepower) and HP (mechanical horsepower) represent the same unit of power. The “brake” in BHP refers to how the power is measured, at the engine’s output shaft using a dynamometer, rather than a different unit of measurement. So 1 BHP equals 1 HP.
Since BHP and mechanical HP are the same unit, no mathematical conversion is needed: the formula is HP = BHP × 1. If you are converting to metric horsepower (PS) instead, you would multiply by approximately 1.0139.
When quoted figures differ, it’s usually because they were measured at different points, BHP at the crankshaft versus wheel horsepower (WHP) measured after drivetrain losses, rather than because BHP and HP are different units. Testing standards (SAE, DIN, EEC) can also introduce small variations.
The term “brake” refers to the Prony brake, an early device used to measure an engine’s torque output by applying a friction load and measuring the resulting force. Modern dynamometers replaced the Prony brake, but the term “brake horsepower” stuck as the name for power measured directly at the engine’s output shaft.
No. In the UK and US, “HP” almost always refers to imperial mechanical horsepower, the same unit as BHP. In continental Europe, quoted “HP” figures sometimes actually mean metric horsepower (PS), which is a very slightly smaller unit, roughly 1.0139 PS per BHP.