kVA to Watts Calculator
Convert apparent power in kilovolt-amps (kVA) to real power in watts (W). Enter the apparent power and the power factor, and press Calculate to get the real power in watts using P(W) = 1000 × S(kVA) × PF. Everything runs locally in your browser.
Enter apparent power in kVA
Type the apparent power S in kilovolt-amps — the combined real and reactive power a system carries. Generator and transformer ratings are usually given in kVA rather than watts. Scientific notation like 5e-3 is accepted.
Enter the power factor
Type the power factor PF, a number between 0 and 1 that describes how much of the apparent power actually does work. Use 1 for purely resistive loads like heaters; motors and electronics typically sit well below 1. Check the nameplate or measure it for accuracy.
Press Calculate, read watts
Real power appears in watts instantly. Press Reset to clear the fields and start over. Every value is computed in your own browser tab.
How to convert kVA to watts
- What is the kVA to watts formula?
- The real power P in watts (W) is equal to 1000 times the apparent power S in kilovolt-amps (kVA), times the power factor PF: P(W) = 1000 × S(kVA) × PF.
- Can you give a worked example?
- A 2 kVA load at a power factor of 0.8 delivers P = 1000 × 2 × 0.8 = 1600 W. At unity power factor the conversion is exact: 1 kVA = 1000 × 1 × 1 = 1000 W, and a PF of 0 gives 0 W.
- Why are kVA and watts different?
- kVA is apparent power — the total flow a system must carry. Watts is real power — the part that actually performs work. The power factor (0 to 1) is their ratio, lowered by reactive loads such as motors and transformers, so watts are never more than the kVA figure implies.
- What power factor should I use?
- Use 1 only for purely resistive loads. Inductive and electronic loads run below 1 — read the equipment nameplate or measure it with a power analyzer. Do not guess a typical value for anything that needs to be accurate.
Privacy: every calculation runs in your browser tab — no value you type is sent anywhere. Results are ideal-circuit values; verify real installations with a multimeter.