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Gigawatt to Foot-pound per Second Converter

Convert gigawatts to ft⋅lb/s with our free online power converter.

Quick Answer

1 Gigawatt = 737562149.277266 ft⋅lb/s

Formula: Gigawatt × conversion factor = Foot-pound per Second

Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.

Our Accuracy Guarantee

All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.

Last verified: February 2026Reviewed by: Sam Mathew, Software Engineer

Gigawatt to Foot-pound per Second Calculator

How to Use the Gigawatt to Foot-pound per Second Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Gigawatt).
  2. The converted value in Foot-pound per Second will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Power category.
  4. Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
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How to Convert Gigawatt to Foot-pound per Second: Step-by-Step Guide

Converting Gigawatt to Foot-pound per Second involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

ft⋅lb/s = GW × 737562000

Example Calculation:

1 GW = 737562149.277266 ft⋅lb/s

Disclaimer: For Reference Only

These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.

Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.

Need to convert to other power units?

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📋 Unit Symbols

Copy GW & ft⋅lb/s symbols

What is a Gigawatt and a Foot-pound per Second?

1 GW = 1,000,000,000 W = 1,000 MW = 1,000,000 kW = 1,341,022 hp = 3.412 billion BTU/h

1 ft⋅lbf/s = 1.356 W = 0.001356 kW = 0.001818 hp = 4.627 BTU/h

Horsepower relationship: 550 ft⋅lbf/s = 1 hp (745.7 W) exactly

Note: The Gigawatt is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Foot-pound per Second belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

Common Uses and Applications: gigawatts vs ft⋅lb/s

Explore the typical applications for both Gigawatt (imperial/US) and Foot-pound per Second (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for gigawatts

Power Plants: Nuclear reactors, coal plants, large hydro dams (1-3 GW each). National Grids: Total generation capacity for countries/regions. Energy Policy: Renewable energy targets, grid expansion planning. Data Centers: Massive hyperscale facilities (approaching 1 GW).

When to Use ft⋅lb/s

Physics Education: Teaching power concepts, mechanical work problems. Classical Mechanics: Textbook problems, engineering fundamentals. Historical: Steam engine era calculations (now use hp or kW). Rarely Practical: Most real applications use hp, kW, or watts.

Additional Unit Information

About Gigawatt (GW)

How do I convert GW to MW or kW?

Formula:

  • MW = GW × 1,000
  • kW = GW × 1,000,000
  • W = GW × 1,000,000,000

Examples:

  • 1 GW = 1,000 MW = 1,000,000 kW
  • 2.5 GW = 2,500 MW = 2,500,000 kW
  • 0.5 GW = 500 MW = 500,000 kW

GW to MW converter → GW to kW converter →

How much power is 1.21 gigawatts?

Reference: "Back to the Future" flux capacitor requirement

1.21 GW = 1,210 MW = 1,210,000 kW

Equivalent to:

  • ~1 nuclear reactor at full output
  • ~600 large wind turbines (2 MW each)
  • ~400,000 US homes' average consumption
  • ~1,620,000 horsepower
  • Lightning bolt peak: ~1 TW (1,000 GW) for microseconds, but 1.21 GW sustained is massive

Reality: No practical way to extract 1.21 GW from a lightning bolt (too brief, unpredictable)

How many homes can 1 GW power?

Average US home: ~1.2 kW average draw (30 kWh/day ÷ 24 hours)

1 GW = 1,000,000 kW

Calculation: 1,000,000 kW ÷ 1.2 kW/home ≈ 833,000 homes

Regional variations:

  • Southwest US (high AC use): ~600,000 homes per GW
  • Northeast US: ~700,000-800,000 homes per GW
  • Pacific Northwest: ~900,000-1,000,000 homes per GW

Peak vs average: During peak demand (hot summer afternoon), 1 GW powers fewer homes (~300,000-500,000).

What is the world's largest power plant?

Three Gorges Dam (China): 22.5 GW capacity

  • Type: Hydroelectric
  • Turbines: 34 generators
  • Annual generation: ~100 TWh/year
  • Location: Yangtze River

Other massive plants:

  • Itaipu Dam (Brazil/Paraguay): 14 GW
  • Xiluodu Dam (China): 13.86 GW
  • Belo Monte Dam (Brazil): 11.23 GW
  • Guri Dam (Venezuela): 10.2 GW

Largest nuclear (single site): Kashiwazaki-Kariwa (Japan): 7.97 GW (7 reactors)

How do countries measure their energy capacity?

Installed capacity: Total GW of all power plants (nameplate rating)

Actual generation: Lower than capacity due to:

  • Capacity factor: % of time at full output
  • Maintenance downtime
  • Fuel availability
  • Grid demand

Example - US (2024):

  • Installed capacity: ~1,200 GW
  • Peak demand: ~740 GW (summer)
  • Average demand: ~450 GW

Capacity factor by source:

  • Nuclear: 90-95% (runs constantly)
  • Coal: 40-60%
  • Natural gas: 30-60%
  • Wind: 25-45%
  • Solar: 15-30%

About Foot-pound per Second (ft⋅lb/s)

How do I convert ft⋅lbf/s to horsepower?

Formula: hp = ft⋅lbf/s ÷ 550

Examples:

  • 550 ft⋅lbf/s = 1 hp (exact definition)
  • 1,100 ft⋅lbf/s = 2 hp
  • 275 ft⋅lbf/s = 0.5 hp
  • 5,500 ft⋅lbf/s = 10 hp

ft⋅lbf/s to HP converter →

How do I convert ft⋅lbf/s to watts?

Formula: W = ft⋅lbf/s × 1.356

Examples:

  • 100 ft⋅lbf/s = 135.6 W
  • 550 ft⋅lbf/s = 746 W (1 hp)
  • 1,000 ft⋅lbf/s = 1,356 W = 1.356 kW

ft⋅lbf/s to Watts converter →

Why is 1 hp = 550 ft⋅lbf/s?

Historical origin: James Watt (1780s) measured draft horses' work capacity

Experiment: Horse lifting coal from mine

  • Typical horse: Lifted ~22,000 lb⋅ft per minute
  • Watt's marketing: Rated engines at 33,000 lb⋅ft/min (50% safety margin)
  • Conversion: 33,000 ft⋅lbf/min ÷ 60 = 550 ft⋅lbf/s = 1 hp

Modern equivalent: 1 hp = 745.7 W = 0.746 kW

Persists: Still used for engines despite metric system adoption.

How do I calculate power from force and velocity?

Formula: Power (ft⋅lbf/s) = Force (lbf) × Velocity (ft/s)

Examples:

  • Towing 1,000 lb at 10 ft/s: 10,000 ft⋅lbf/s = 18.2 hp = 13.6 kW
  • Lifting 500 lb at 2 ft/s: 1,000 ft⋅lbf/s = 1.82 hp = 1.36 kW
  • Pushing 200 lb at 5 ft/s: 1,000 ft⋅lbf/s = 1.82 hp

SI equivalent: Power (W) = Force (N) × Velocity (m/s)

Conversion Table: Gigawatt to Foot-pound per Second

Gigawatt (GW)Foot-pound per Second (ft⋅lb/s)
0.5368,781,074.639
1737,562,149.277
1.51,106,343,223.916
21,475,124,298.555
53,687,810,746.386
107,375,621,492.773
2518,439,053,731.932
5036,878,107,463.863
10073,756,214,927.727
250184,390,537,319.316
500368,781,074,638.633
1,000737,562,149,277.266

People Also Ask

How do I convert Gigawatt to Foot-pound per Second?

To convert Gigawatt to Foot-pound per Second, enter the value in Gigawatt in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our power converter page to convert between other units in this category.

Learn more →

What is the conversion factor from Gigawatt to Foot-pound per Second?

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Gigawatt and Foot-pound per Second. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.

Can I convert Foot-pound per Second back to Gigawatt?

Yes! You can easily convert Foot-pound per Second back to Gigawatt by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Foot-pound per Second to Gigawatt converter page. You can also explore other power conversions on our category page.

Learn more →

What are common uses for Gigawatt and Foot-pound per Second?

Gigawatt and Foot-pound per Second are both standard units used in power measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our power converter for more conversion options.

For more power conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.

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Other Power Units and Conversions

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Verified Against Authority Standards

All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.

NIST Reference on Constants, Units and Uncertainty

National Institute of Standards and Technology — Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions

BIPM SI Units

Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards

ISO 80000

International Organization for Standardization — Quantities and units international standards series

Last verified: February 19, 2026