How to convert watts to kilowatts
- Take the value in watts.
- Use the formula kilowatts = watts ÷ 1,000.
- For example, 60 W is 0.06 kW.
About watts and kilowatts
Divide watts by 1,000 to get kilowatts. 2,000 W is 2 kW, 450 W is 0.45 kW and 60 W is 0.06 kW.
Electricity is billed per kilowatt-hour, so converting an appliance’s watts to kW is the first step in working out its running cost: kW × hours used × price per kWh. Solar installers do the same when they add up panels, since ten 400 W panels make a 4 kW system.
Examples
- 60 W (an old incandescent bulb) is 0.06 kW
- 400 W (a 400 W solar panel) is 0.4 kW
- 1,500 W (a space heater) is 1.5 kW
- 2,000 W (a hair dryer or a 2 kW fan heater) is 2 kW
Watts to kilowatts chart
| Watts (W) | Kilowatts (kW) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.001 |
| 5 | 0.005 |
| 10 | 0.01 |
| 25 | 0.025 |
| 40 | 0.04 |
| 60 | 0.06 |
| 100 | 0.1 |
| 150 | 0.15 |
| 200 | 0.2 |
| 300 | 0.3 |
| 400 | 0.4 |
| 500 | 0.5 |
| Watts (W) | Kilowatts (kW) |
|---|---|
| 750 | 0.75 |
| 800 | 0.8 |
| 1,000 | 1 |
| 1,200 | 1.2 |
| 1,500 | 1.5 |
| 1,800 | 1.8 |
| 2,000 | 2 |
| 2,500 | 2.5 |
| 3,000 | 3 |
| 5,000 | 5 |
| 10,000 | 10 |