Power-to-Weight Ratio Calculator
Power-to-weight ratio (PWR, also written W/kg or hp/lb) measures how much power is produced per unit of mass. Cyclists use it to compare climbing ability; car reviewers use it to compare acceleration potential. This tool accepts W, kW or mechanical horsepower together with kilograms or pounds and classifies the result on a Coggan-style cycling FTP scale or against typical road-car ranges.
Please enter a valid number
Power-to-weight ratio
4.00 W/kg
Trained
Other units
- W/kg
- 4.00
- hp/kg
- 0.0054
- hp/lb
- 0.0024
Cyclist tiers (W/kg)
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Bands: Coggan & Allen, "Training and Racing with a Power Meter" (3rd ed., 2019), 20-min FTP table simplified into five tiers.
Formula
P/W (W/kg) = Power (W) / Mass (kg) hp/kg = (W/kg) / 745.6999 hp/lb = (W/kg) / 745.6999 / 2.20462
- · This tool uses mechanical horsepower (1 hp = 745.6999 W) — the SAE / Anglo-American automotive standard. The European metric horsepower (PS / CV ≈ 735.5 W) is about 1.4 % smaller.
- · Unit conversions: 1 kg = 2.20462 lb; 1 kW = 1.34102 hp; 1 hp = 0.7457 kW.
- · Cyclist tiers follow a simplified Coggan & Allen FTP table (Training and Racing with a Power Meter, 3rd ed., 2019) calibrated to 20-minute sustainable power — not the same brackets used for 5-second sprint or 1-minute anaerobic power.
- · Cyclist tiers are gender-neutral, but the same W/kg sits at a higher percentile for women — world-class women is roughly 5.0 W/kg vs 5.5 W/kg for men.
- · Vehicle tiers compare rated engine / motor power to curb mass; real-world acceleration also depends on transmission, tyres and aerodynamics.
- · Cyclists almost always quote W/kg; automotive press traditionally quotes hp/lb, though W/kg is becoming common in the EV era.
Frequently asked
What is a good W/kg for a cyclist?
Using the public Coggan & Allen FTP brackets (20-minute sustained power): untrained adults sit at 1.5–2.5 W/kg; enthusiastic recreational cyclists at 3.0–3.5; amateur Cat 3–4 around 3.5–4.0; Cat 1–2 around 4.0–5.0; national-development / pro-contiguous around 5.0–5.5; WorldTour pros above 5.5. On long climbs Tour de France contenders like Pogačar and Vingegaard sustain 6.0–6.4 W/kg for 30+ minutes. For a real estimate, ride a 20-minute FTP test on a calibrated trainer; take 95 % of the average and divide by your weight in kg.
How does a car's power-to-weight ratio map to 0–100 km/h time?
Roughly: below 60 W/kg you usually need >10 s to 100 km/h; ~100 W/kg gives 6–8 s; ~150 W/kg gives 4–6 s; above 250 W/kg is normally sub-3 s. But power-to-weight is only the ceiling — real numbers also depend on gearbox type (DCT vs torque-converter vs CVT), tyre grip, AWD vs RWD, launch technique, aerodynamics and (for EVs) the torque curve. Examples: Tesla Model S Plaid ≈ 760 hp / 2,160 kg ≈ 263 W/kg → 2.1 s to 100 km/h; Mazda MX-5 ≈ 181 hp / 1,060 kg ≈ 127 W/kg → ~6.5 s.
What is the difference between mechanical (hp) and metric horsepower (PS)?
Mechanical horsepower (imperial hp) = 745.6999 W — defined by James Watt in 1782 from "one horse lifts 550 ft·lb per second." Metric horsepower (PS / Pferdestärke or CV / chevaux vapeur) = 735.49875 W — defined to round-trip "75 kg × 9.80665 m/s² × 1 m/s." They differ by about 1.4 %: an engine rated 200 PS in Europe is ≈ 197 mechanical hp ≈ 147 kW. This tool uses mechanical hp following Anglo-American automotive convention. To enter a PS figure, multiply by 0.9863 first, or use kW directly for a more precise conversion.
To improve W/kg: lose weight or gain power?
Mathematically they're equivalent — W/kg = W ÷ kg, so losing 1 % bodyweight changes the ratio the same as adding 1 % power. In practice it depends on where you start: (1) if body fat is clearly elevated and not limiting your FTP, dropping a few kg usually moves W/kg faster than the equivalent training block — power gains take months of aerobic-base work. (2) But over-restricting (dipping below BMI 18.5, RED-S in women) tanks power, hormones and performance. (3) Experienced riders already at 4.5 W/kg+ are typically close to their personal fat floor, and structured base + threshold work is more sustainable than further weight loss. Plan it with a qualified coach / dietitian — never chase a number at the cost of health.
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