Power factor measures how efficiently your electrical system uses power. A PF of 1.0 is perfect; most industrial systems run 0.80–0.95.
PF = kW ÷ kVA. The ratio of real to apparent power.
Utilities penalize PF below 0.85–0.90 with surcharges on your bill.
Install capacitor banks to improve PF and reduce reactive power.
PF > 0.95 is excellent. 0.85–0.95 is acceptable. Below 0.80 needs correction.
Ratio of real to apparent power.
PF ranges from 0 to 1. Higher is better. PF = cos(θ) where θ is the phase angle.
3 steps to assess efficiency.
Read real power from your power meter or energy monitor.
Read apparent power from your meter or calculate from V × A.
PF = kW ÷ kVA. Result between 0 and 1.
PF values for common load types.
| Load Type | Typical PF | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.95–1.00 | Excellent |
| 2 | 0.85–0.95 | Good |
| 3 | 0.80–0.85 | Acceptable |
| 4 | 0.70–0.80 | Poor |
| 5 | Below 0.70 | Critical |
Real-world PF calculations.
400 kW real, 500 kVA apparent:
400 ÷ 500 = 0.80 PF (needs correction)
180 kW real, 200 kVA apparent:
180 ÷ 200 = 0.90 PF (good)
50 kW heater, 50 kVA:
50 ÷ 50 = 1.00 PF (perfect)
25 free conversion tools — each with its own unique calculator, interactive visuals, and detailed explanations.
Converter for kva-to-watts
Converter for kva-to-mw
Converter for kva-to-amps
Converter for kva-to-kwh
Converter for kva-to-hp
Converter for kva-to-va
Converter for kva-to-btu
Converter for kva-to-gw
Converter for kva-to-kw-3-phase
Converter for kva-to-joule
Converter for kva-to-kv
Converter for kva-to-ka
Converter for kva-to-mbh
Converter for kva-to-mwh
Converter for kva-to-mva
Converter for kva-to-rpm
Converter for va-to-v
Converter for kw-to-kwh
Converter for power-factor-calculator
Converter for transformer-kva-calculator
Converter for generator-size-calculator
Converter for kva-to-kvar
Converter for kvar-calculator
Converter for watts-to-kwh
Converter for voltage-drop-calculator
Common questions about power factor.
Above 0.95 is excellent. 0.85–0.95 is acceptable. Below 0.85 may incur penalties.
Low PF wastes capacity, increases current, causes voltage drops, and triggers utility surcharges.
Install capacitor banks, synchronous condensers, or active PF correction equipment.
Inductive loads: motors, transformers, fluorescent lights, welding machines.
No. PF is always between 0 and 1. If kW > kVA, recheck your measurements.