Kilowatts (kW) to Kilovolt-Amps (kVA) Electrical Conversion Calculator

Convert kilowatts (kW) to kilovolt-amps (kVA) by entering the power and power factor in the form below.

Do you want to convert kVA to kW instead?

How to Convert KW to kVA

Kilowatts and kilovolt-amps are both a measure of power, but they’re a little different. Kilowatts (kW) measure the real power in an electrical circuit, while kilovolt-amps (kVA) measure the apparent power.

In electrical equipment such as a generator or transformer the real power and apparent power are often not equal. This is because the equipment has a power factor of less than 1, which represents the amount of power that does no real work in the circuit.

Learn more about power factor with our power factor calculator.

The formula to convert kW to kVA accounting for the power factor is:
kVA = kW ÷ Power Factor

The apparent power in kVA is equal to the real power in kW divided by the power factor.

To convert to kVA, insert kW and the equipment power factor in the formula above.

kW to kVA Conversion Chart

This chart shows kilovolt-amps (kVA) converted to kilowatt (kW) ratings for equipment with a power factor of 80%.