Horsepower to Foot-pounds per Second (hp to ft-lbf/s)
1 horsepower (hp) equals 550 foot-pounds per second (ft·lbf/s).
1 hp = 550 ft·lbf/s
Type in either box. Scientific notation works: 1.5e-3.
Converting a list? Use the bulk horsepower to foot-pound per second converter to paste a column from Excel.
How to Convert Horsepower to Foot-pound per Second
- 1 hp = 550 ft·lbf/s
- 1 ft·lbf/s = 0.001818181818 hp
- Example: convert 15 hp to ft·lbf/s: 15 hp = 15 × 550 ft·lbf/s = 8250 ft·lbf/s
Reference conditions. hp: Mechanical (imperial) horsepower, 550 ft·lbf/s. Metric horsepower (PS) is about 1.4 % smaller.
Formula
ft·lbf/s = hp × 550
Derivation from SI units:
- 1 hp = 550 ft·lbf/s = 745.69987158227 W
- 1 ft·lbf/s = 1.3558179483314 W
- 1 hp = 745.6998715823 W ÷ 1.355817948331 W per ft·lbf/s = 550 ft·lbf/s
Both units are defined exactly, so the factor is exact. Horsepower definition: horsepower; Foot-pound per Second definition: foot-pound per second.
Worked examples
- A reading of 5 hp converts to 2750 ft·lbf/s.
5 hp × 550 = 2750 ft·lbf/s - A value of 150 hp is 82500 ft·lbf/s.
150 hp × 550 = 82500 ft·lbf/s
Horsepower to Foot-pound per Second conversion table
| Horsepower (hp) | Foot-pounds per Second (ft·lbf/s) |
|---|---|
| 0.25 hp | 137.5 ft·lbf/s |
| 0.5 hp | 275 ft·lbf/s |
| 1 hp | 550 ft·lbf/s |
| 1.5 hp | 825 ft·lbf/s |
| 2 hp | 1100 ft·lbf/s |
| 5 hp | 2750 ft·lbf/s |
| 10 hp | 5500 ft·lbf/s |
| 25 hp | 13750 ft·lbf/s |
| 50 hp | 27500 ft·lbf/s |
| 100 hp | 55000 ft·lbf/s |
| 150 hp | 82500 ft·lbf/s |
| 200 hp | 110000 ft·lbf/s |
| 300 hp | 165000 ft·lbf/s |
| 400 hp | 220000 ft·lbf/s |
| 500 hp | 275000 ft·lbf/s |
| 1000 hp | 550000 ft·lbf/s |
Where it's used
Horsepower are used for car and motorcycle engine power in the US and UK, while foot-pounds per second appear in mechanics problems in US units. Both measure power (energy per unit time), so the conversion is a fixed factor.
Horsepower to other power units
| Conversion | 1 hp equals |
|---|---|
| horsepower to watt | 745.6998716 W |
| horsepower to milliwatt | 745699.8716 mW |
| horsepower to kilowatt | 0.7456998716 kW |
| horsepower to megawatt | 0.0007456998716 MW |
| horsepower to metric horsepower | 1.013869665 PS |
| horsepower to BTU per hour | 2544.433578 BTU/h |
| horsepower to refrigeration ton | 0.2120361315 TR |
| horsepower to kilocalorie per hour | 641.186476 kcal/h |
| horsepower to foot-pound per second | 550 ft·lbf/s |
Frequently asked questions
How many foot-pounds per second are in 1 horsepower?
1 hp = 550 ft·lbf/s.
How do I convert horsepower to foot-pounds per second?
Multiply the value in hp by 550. For example, 15 hp × 550 = 8250 ft·lbf/s.
Is the hp to ft·lbf/s conversion exact?
Yes. Both units are defined exactly, and 1 hp is exactly 550 ft·lbf/s.
Sources
- Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Appendix B.8, "horsepower (550 ft·lbf/s)".
- Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Appendix B.8, "foot pound-force per second".
Last reviewed: . Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.
Cite this page
APA
Scientific Converters. (2026, October 15). Horsepower to Foot-pounds per Second (hp to ft-lbf/s). Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/power/horsepower-to-foot-pounds-per-second/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Horsepower to Foot-pounds per Second (hp to ft-lbf/s)," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 18, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/power/horsepower-to-foot-pounds-per-second/