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Peak horsepower vs watts: which blender power number counts
Updated
Compare blenders by the watts in the spec table, not by the horsepower or peak watts up top. One electric horsepower is 746 watts. Run that on the listings here and the horsepower claim and the spec table do not match.
What peak means
Vitamix's own blender guide puts it plainly. Some makers list peak horsepower and others use running horsepower. Peak is the burst of power the motor needs to get through resistance, like tough ingredients. Running is the power used in normal operation. The same guide says 1 horsepower equals 746 watts and that most countertop blenders get the job done with 1 to 2 horsepower. NIST's conversion table gives the same figure: electric horsepower to watts is 746.
The math on the picks
| Blender | Claim up top | Claim in watts | Watts in the spec table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamix 5200 | 2 HP | 1,492 W | 1,380 W |
| Vitamix Propel 750 | 2.2 HP | 1,641 W | 1,400 W |
| Blendtec Total Blender Classic | 1,560 watt motor | Already in watts | 1,560 W |
| Ninja Professional Plus BN701 | 1,400 peak watts | Already in watts | 1,400 W |
| nutribullet Blender Combo | 1,200 watts | Already in watts | 1,200 W |
| KitchenAid K400 (KSB4027) | 1.5 peak HP | 1,119 W | 1,200 W |
| Breville Fresh and Furious | 1,100 watts | Already in watts | 1,100 W |
Horsepower claim x 746Watts in the listing's spec table
- Vitamix 52001,492 W1,380 W
- Vitamix Propel 7501,641 W1,400 W
- Blendtec Total Blender Classicnone stated1,560 W
- Ninja Professional Plus BN701none stated1,400 W
- nutribullet Blender Combonone stated1,200 W
- KitchenAid K400 (KSB4027)1,119 W1,200 W
- Breville Fresh and Furiousnone stated1,100 W
- Vitamix 5200: 2 HP x 746 = 1,492 watts. The spec table says 1,380, a gap of 112 watts. Vitamix's product page lists the electrical rating as 120 volts and 11.5 amps. Multiply those and you get 1,380 watts, the same as the spec table. So the spec table matches the electrical rating, and the horsepower is the bigger headline.
- Vitamix Propel 750: 2.2 HP x 746 = 1,641 watts, against 1,400 in the spec table. A gap of 241 watts.
- KitchenAid K400 (KSB4027): 1.5 peak HP x 746 = 1,119 watts, against 1,200 in the spec table. Here the horsepower figure is the smaller one. The two numbers are measured in different ways, so neither converts cleanly into the other.
- Ninja Professional Plus BN701: the listing's box contents say 1400-Peak-Watt motor base, and Ninja's own page says 1400 peak watts. Ninja's page also says this model beats its older BL610 "based on operating wattage". So the maker treats peak watts and operating watts as two different things. The listing only gives you the peak one.
- Blendtec Total Blender Classic, nutribullet Blender Combo and Breville Fresh and Furious: plain watt figures, 1,560, 1,200 and 1,100, with no peak wording in what we read.
How to use this
- Scroll to the spec table and find "Wattage".
- If the title gives horsepower, multiply by 746 and see how far it sits from the wattage line.
- If you see the word peak, treat it as a burst number. Compare it only with other peak numbers.
- Do not buy on watts alone. Jar shape, a tamper and the warranty matter as much for daily use.
A note on outlets: 120 volts times 15 amps is 1,800 watts, which is simple arithmetic and the reason a claim far past that figure cannot be what the blender pulls from the wall for long. If a blender trips a breaker, stop and ask a licensed electrician. This is not electrical advice.
Match a blender to your household with the size and power checker, or compare all seven picks on the roundup page.