Convert Watts to Kilowatts
Convert Watts (W) to Kilowatts (kW) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
kW = W × 0.001
About Watts
The watt (W) is the SI unit of power - 1 J/s - named after James Watt (1736-1819). Familiar power levels: smartphone charging 5-65 W; laptop 15-100 W; microwave 700-1,200 W; electric kettle 2,000-3,000 W; human resting metabolism ~80 W; peak sprint ~2,000 W. The now-obsolete 100 W incandescent bulb is replaced by a 10-15 W LED producing the same light. In AC circuits, reactive power uses the var and apparent power the VA, both derived from watts. 1 W = 1 J/s = 1 kg·m²/s³.
About Kilowatts
A kilowatt (kW) is 1,000 W - the everyday unit for home, vehicle, and industrial power. Average US home consumption is ~1.2 kW continuous (~10,500 kWh/year). EV motors range from 30 kW (city cars) to 600+ kW (performance models); a Tesla Model S Performance produces 560 kW (751 hp). Industrial gas turbines on commercial aircraft generate 20,000-100,000 kW. Solar installations are sized in kW-peak. Industrial electric motors span from fractional kW to thousands of kW. 1 kW = 1,000 W = 1.341 hp = 3,412.1 BTU/h.
Quick Reference Table
| Watts (W) | Kilowatts (kW) |
|---|---|
| 1 W | 0.001 kW |
| 2 W | 0.002 kW |
| 5 W | 0.005 kW |
| 10 W | 0.01 kW |
| 25 W | 0.025 kW |
| 50 W | 0.05 kW |
| 100 W | 0.1 kW |