How many ft·lbf/min is 1 horsepower?

1 mechanical horsepower equals exactly 33,000 foot-pounds per minute. This is the original definition set by James Watt: a horse doing 33,000 ft·lbf of work per minute. The figure is exact, not an approximation.

What type of horsepower does this converter use?

This tool uses mechanical (imperial) horsepower, where 1 hp = 33,000 ft·lbf/min = 550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 745.7 watts. Metric horsepower (PS) is slightly different at ≈ 735.5 watts, so the result would differ by about 1.4% for metric hp inputs.

How does ft·lbf/min relate to watts?

1 ft·lbf/min ≈ 0.022597 watts. Equivalently, 1 watt ≈ 44.254 ft·lbf/min. So 1 hp = 33,000 × 0.022597 ≈ 745.7 watts, confirming the standard hp-to-watt conversion.

How do I convert ft·lbf/min back to horsepower?

Divide ft·lbf/min by 33,000 to get mechanical horsepower. For example, 66,000 ft·lbf/min ÷ 33,000 = 2 hp.

What is foot-pound per minute used for?

Foot-pound per minute is an imperial unit of power. It appears in older US mechanical engineering references, motor torque-speed analysis (power = torque × angular speed), and hydraulic system specs. Modern US industry more commonly uses horsepower or kilowatts, but ft·lbf/min remains useful when torque (ft·lbf) and rotational speed (rpm) are the primary knowns.

Horsepower to Foot Pounds per Minute Converter

Enter horsepower and instantly get foot-pounds per minute — the original definition of hp is exactly 33,000 ft·lbf/min.

Horsepower (hp)

Enter horsepower

Enter a horsepower value above to see the result.

Formula: ft·lbf/min = hp × 33,000
Inverse: hp = ft·lbf/min ÷ 33,000

Common hp to ft·lbf/min Values

Horsepower (hp)	ft·lbf/min

1 hp = 33,000 ft·lbf/min (exact) | 1 hp ≈ 745.7 W

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Summary

This converter transforms mechanical horsepower (hp) into foot-pounds per minute (ft·lbf/min). The conversion factor is exact: 1 horsepower is defined as exactly 33,000 ft·lbf/min — the rate at which a horse was measured to lift 33,000 pounds by one foot in one minute. Use this tool when working with engine or motor power ratings in horsepower that need to be expressed as a torque-speed product in ft·lbf/min, or when cross-referencing legacy US machinery specs.

How it works

Enter the horsepower value you want to convert.
The tool multiplies your input by 33,000 — the exact hp-to-ft·lbf/min factor.
The converted value appears instantly in foot-pounds per minute.
Click any row in the reference table to load a common hp value.
Copy the result with one click for use in another application.

Use cases

Convert engine or motor power ratings from hp to ft·lbf/min for US mechanical specs.
Verify torque-speed product calculations against a horsepower rating.
Cross-check pump or compressor power output in legacy imperial datasheets.
Size mechanical components when load is expressed in ft·lbf/min and power in hp.
Teach or learn the original definition of horsepower in engineering courses.
Compare equipment power ratings across mixed imperial unit systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-19 · Reviewed by Nham Vu