0–60 / Horsepower Calculator
Find your car's real-world power output from 0-60 time or quarter-mile ET. Convert HP to kW, calculate torque from HP and RPM, and estimate trap speed.
How to use 0–60 / Horsepower Calculator
The horsepower calculator estimates a vehicle's power output from 0–60 mph time and weight, converts between horsepower, kilowatts and PS (metric horsepower), and calculates torque from HP and RPM. It also estimates quarter-mile elapsed time and trap speed from known HP and weight, useful for performance benchmarking.
- Enter vehicle weight (kerb weight) in lbs or kg.
- Enter 0–60 mph time, or switch to HP-to-performance mode.
- Review estimated horsepower and quarter-mile prediction.
- Use the HP ↔ kW ↔ PS converter for international specifications.
- Calculate torque from HP and RPM, or vice versa.
Your data never leaves your device — 100% private processing.
HP, kW and torque — formulas
Horsepower from 0–60 (approximate): HP ≈ (Weight × 0–60 speed²) / (time × constant). More accurately, the ET method: HP = Weight ÷ (ET / 5.825)³. Unit conversions: 1 HP = 0.7457 kW = 1.0139 PS (metric HP). Torque and HP are related: HP = (Torque × RPM) ÷ 5,252. They are equal at 5,252 RPM for any engine — above that, HP exceeds torque numerically.
| HP | kW | PS (metric) | Torque at 5,252 RPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 74.6 | 101.4 | 100 lb-ft |
| 150 | 111.9 | 152.1 | 150 lb-ft |
| 200 | 149.1 | 202.8 | 200 lb-ft |
| 300 | 223.7 | 304.2 | 300 lb-ft |
| 400 | 298.3 | 405.6 | 400 lb-ft |
Wheel horsepower vs engine horsepower
Manufacturer-quoted HP is measured at the crankshaft (bhp/hp). Wheel horsepower (whp), measured at the driven wheels on a dynamometer, is typically 10–15% lower due to drivetrain losses (transmission, driveshafts, differentials). FWD cars lose ~12–13%; RWD ~10–11%; AWD ~13–15%. Always clarify which figure is being quoted when comparing performance cars.
Glossary
- Horsepower (HP)
- A unit of power equal to 746 watts; measured at the crankshaft for rated output.
- Torque
- Rotational force measured in lb-ft or Nm; determines acceleration from rest.
- PS
- Pferdestärke — metric horsepower, widely used in European specifications; 1 PS = 0.9863 HP.
- Quarter-mile ET
- Elapsed time over a 402-metre drag strip — a standard performance benchmark.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why use 0–60 / Horsepower Calculator?
- Covers all major auto loan and leasing calculations
- Fuel cost comparisons with real MPG/L/100km data
- Instant results with no spreadsheet required
- Supports both metric and imperial units
Common use cases
- Calculate monthly payments on a car loan
- Compare the total cost of owning vs leasing
- Estimate annual fuel costs for a vehicle
- Calculate depreciation over 5 years
- Find out true cost of ownership including insurance
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