kVA (Apparent Power): This is the total power supplied to a system. It's the hypotenuse of the power triangle. kVAR (Reactive Power): This is the portion of power that doesn't do useful work but sustains magnetic fields. It's one of the sides.

kVA to kVAR Calculator

Power Quality | Version 2.1

Calculation Method

Choose calculation method based on available data

Apparent Power (kVA)

Enter the total apparent power in kilovolt-amperes

Power Factor

Power factor range: 0.1 to 1.0 (0.8 is typical for industrial loads)

Real Power (kW)

Enter the real power in kilowatts

Reactive Power Type

Inductive loads (motors) create lagging power factor

Calculation Results

Reactive Power: 0 kVAR

Real Power: 0 kW

Apparent Power: 0 kVA

Power Factor: 0

Phase Angle: 0°

Step-by-Step Calculation

Enter values above to see detailed calculations

KVA to kW Calculator

KVA to Watts Calculator

How to Use the kVA to kVAR Calculator

Step 1: Enter System Values

Select Method: Choose between "Using Power Factor" or "Using Real Power (kW)" based on the data you have.
Enter Apparent Power: Input the total kVA value of your system.
Provide Details: Fill in either the Power Factor or the Real Power (kW), depending on your selection in the first step.

Tip: The power factor is typically found on equipment nameplates or utility bills.

Step 2: Specify Power Type

Choose Load Type: Use the "Reactive Power Type" dropdown.
Lagging (Inductive): Select this for systems with motors, transformers, or coils. This is the most common load type.
Leading (Capacitive): Select this for systems with large capacitor banks or long underground cables.

Important: Choosing the correct type is crucial for accurate system analysis.

Step 3: Calculate & Analyze

Calculate: Click the "Calculate kVAR" button to process your inputs.
View Results: The calculator will instantly display the Reactive Power (kVAR).
Analyze Breakdown: Review the complete power triangle details, including kW, final power factor, and phase angle for a full system overview.

Next Step: Use the calculated kVAR to size power factor correction equipment.

How to Calculate kVA to kVAR

Calculating reactive power (kVAR) is a fundamental skill for power factor correction and system analysis. This guide breaks down the process into clear, manageable steps using a practical example, ensuring you can apply the concepts correctly and confidently.

1. Understand the Concepts

First, visualize the Power Triangle. This is the foundation for all calculations.

kVA (Apparent Power): The total power supplied.
kW (Real Power): The useful, working power.
kVAR (Reactive Power): The "wasted" power we need to find.

2. Know the Core Formulas

There are two primary formulas to find kVAR, depending on the data you have.

With Power Factor (PF):
`kVAR = kVA x sqrt(1 - PF²)`
With Real Power (kW):
`kVAR = sqrt(kVA² - kW²)`

3. Gather Your Data

For our example, we will analyze a small workshop with several induction motors.

System Parameters:

Apparent Power (kVA) = 150 kVA
Power Factor (PF) = 0.75 lagging

Our goal is to calculate the total reactive power (kVAR).

4. Calculate Using Power Factor

Using the first formula, we can find the kVAR directly from the kVA and Power Factor.

kVAR = 150 x sqrt(1 - 0.75²)

Solving this gives you:

150 x sqrt(0.4375) = 150 x 0.661 = 99.2 kVAR.

5. Find the Real Power (kW)

To verify our result with the second method, we first need to find the real power (kW) in the system.

kW = kVA x PF

Plugging in the values:

150 kVA x 0.75 PF = 112.5 kW.

6. Verify Using Real Power

Now use the second formula with the kW value we just found to confirm the kVAR.

kVAR = sqrt(150² - 112.5²)

Solving this gives you:

sqrt(22500 - 12656.25) = sqrt(9843.75) = 99.2 kVAR.

Worked Example: Final Summary

Scenario: Calculate the reactive power for a workshop with an apparent power of 150 kVA and a power factor of 0.75.

Identify the Goal: We need to find the kVAR.
Select the Primary Method (Using PF):
- Formula: `kVAR = kVA x sqrt(1 - PF²)`
- Calculation: `150 x sqrt(1 - 0.75²) = 99.2 kVAR`
Perform Verification (Using kW):
- First, find kW: `150 kVA x 0.75 PF = 112.5 kW`
- Formula: `kVAR = sqrt(kVA² - kW²)`
- Calculation: `sqrt(150² - 112.5²) = 99.2 kVAR`
Conclusion: Both methods confirm the system has 99.2 kVAR of reactive power. This is the value needed to correctly size power factor correction capacitors.

kVA to kVAR Conversion Chart

Use this chart for quick estimates of reactive power (kVAR) based on total apparent power (kVA) and the system's power factor.

Apparent Power (kVA)	kVAR @ 0.95 PF	kVAR @ 0.90 PF	kVAR @ 0.85 PF	kVAR @ 0.80 PF	kVAR @ 0.75 PF	kVAR @ 0.70 PF
10 kVA	3.1 kVAR	4.4 kVAR	5.3 kVAR	6.0 kVAR	6.6 kVAR	7.1 kVAR
25 kVA	7.8 kVAR	10.9 kVAR	13.2 kVAR	15.0 kVAR	16.5 kVAR	17.9 kVAR
50 kVA	15.6 kVAR	21.8 kVAR	26.4 kVAR	30.0 kVAR	33.1 kVAR	35.7 kVAR
100 kVA	31.2 kVAR	43.6 kVAR	52.7 kVAR	60.0 kVAR	66.1 kVAR	71.4 kVAR
250 kVA	78.0 kVAR	109.0 kVAR	131.8 kVAR	150.0 kVAR	165.3 kVAR	178.5 kVAR
500 kVA	156.0 kVAR	218.0 kVAR	263.5 kVAR	300.0 kVAR	330.5 kVAR	357.0 kVAR
1000 kVA	312.0 kVAR	436.0 kVAR	527.0 kVAR	600.0 kVAR	661.0 kVAR	714.0 kVAR

Frequently Asked Questions

How to calculate kVA to KVAR?

To calculate kVAR, you need to know the system's Power Factor (PF). The formula is:

kVAR = kVA x sqrt(1 - PF²)

For example, a 100 kVA system with a 0.8 PF has 60 kVAR of reactive power.

How much KVAR is required for 1000 kVA?

The amount of kVAR depends entirely on the Power Factor (PF).

At 0.95 PF (very efficient): 1000 kVA requires 312 kVAR.
At 0.80 PF (less efficient): 1000 kVA requires 600 kVAR.

Lower power factors result in higher, less efficient kVAR levels.

What is 1 KVAR equal to?

1 kVAR (Kilovolt-Ampere Reactive) is a unit of reactive power equal to 1,000 volt-amperes reactive.

It represents the "wasted" or non-working power that is necessary to create magnetic fields in motors and transformers.

What is KVAR vs kVA?

Think of the power triangle:

kVA (Apparent Power): This is the total power supplied to a system. It's the hypotenuse of the power triangle.
kVAR (Reactive Power): This is the portion of power that doesn't do useful work but sustains magnetic fields. It's one of the sides.

kVA to kVAR Calculator