Tool 02 / Power & mass
Power-to-Weight Calculator
See how much power your car has for its weight in horsepower per US short ton, pounds per horsepower, and kW per metric tonne.
Worked example
Reading your power-to-weight ratios
A 3,500 lb vehicle rated at 300 hp has 171.4 hp per US short ton, 11.67 lb per hp, and 140.9 kW per metric tonne.
What does each number tell me?
A US short ton is 2,000 lb. A metric tonne is 1,000 kg. Higher hp per ton or kW per tonne means more power for the same weight. Lower lb per hp means each horsepower has less weight to move.
Can two cars with the same ratio have different 0–60 times?
Yes. Grip, launch, gearing, and where power is available across the rev range all influence measured acceleration. Use the 0–60 calculator for a model estimate based on the ratio.