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

Name: Horsepower to Foot Pounds per Minute Converter
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

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

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

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: 2026-07-22 · Reviewed by Nham Vu