Have you ever wondered what blender has the most watts/horsepower? If you have, then we are here to help.
In this article, we look at:
- Is there a difference between watts/horsepower in a blender?
- What blenders have the most watts/horsepower?
- Is a higher watt blender better?
- How powerful should a blender be?
Is There a Difference Between Watts/Horsepower in a Blender?
Horsepower and Watts are different ways of expressing the same idea; how much work is performed, how fast. They are derived from different formulas but basically mean the same thing.
The main difference is that watts are an international unit that equates to one joule of energy transferred in one second. Horsepower is generally only used in non-metric countries and has a definition that changes slightly depending on the application.
When discussing blenders, the accepted multiplier for converting one to the other is one hp = 746 watts.
So What Blenders Have the Most Watts / Horsepower?
All of the top brands produce blenders with more than enough watts/horsepower to perform any task you could reasonably ask of them. The most powerful blenders on the market by the brand are listed below.
Vitamix
- Vitamix XL – 4.2 hp (3133 watts)
- The Quiet One – 3 hp (2238 watts)
- Vita-Prep 3 – 3 hp (2238 watts)
- Touch & Go Advance – 2.3 hp (1716 watts)
- Ascent 3500 – 2.2 hp (1641 watts)
- Explorian Series E310 – 2 hp (1492 watts)
Blendtec
- Professional 800 – 2.4 hp (1800 watts)
- Designer 725 – 2.4 hp (1800 watts)
- All other Blendtec blenders – 2.1 hp (1560 watts)
Ninja Kitchen
- Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ – 1.9 hp (1400 watts)
- Ninja Pro Plus Duo – 1.8 hp (1400 watts)
- Ninja Foodi – 1.8 hp (1400 watts), 800-watt heating element
Kitchenaid
- Pro-Line Series Blender – 3.5 hp (2611 watts)
- High-Performance Series Blender – 3.0 hp (2238 watts)
- K400 Variable Speed Blender – 1.5 hp (1119 watts)
Nutribullet
- Nutribullet Smart Touch Blender – 2 hp (1500 watts)
- Nutribullet Full-Size Blender – 1.6 hp (1200 watts)
Is a Higher Watt Blender Better?
Yes, generally, a higher watt blender will be better, but not always.
A higher watt blender has a stronger motor and should accomplish more demanding tasks easier and faster without bogging down. However, there is more to how well a blender will perform than just its wattage rating.
Electric motors don’t all deliver their maximum power in the same speed range. One may provide its best at 27,000 while another will give its all at 17,000, so they will perform differently.
There are also blade and pitcher designs to consider as well as the overall build quality. In simplest terms, blenders work by developing a vortex, like a liquid tornado, that brings solids into contact with the blade’s edges and then pushes them to the surface in a circular flow. The efficiency of this vortex depends on the proper blade and jug geometry.
Efficiently shaped blades will transfer more energy to the liquid and develop higher impact pressures, which means the blender will operate more effectively. A well-designed jug also aids in developing an efficient vortex, and its shape shouldn’t cause any power stilling eddies or leave dead zones that have to be scraped clean.
Build quality comes into play when considering how much of the motor’s power actually reaches the blades. Lesser quality blenders may be built with bushings instead of bearings and plastic couplings instead of more expensive steel ones. Bushings create power-robbing drag on drive parts, and plastic couplings absorb the power instead of fully transferring it to the blades.
Is a higher watt blender better? It definitely has the potential to be. But, a blender is a complicated machine whose performance is the sum of its parts more than any single factor. To be sure you get all the performance you are paying for, it is best to buy from known high-quality brands.
How Powerful Should a Blender Be?
How powerful a blender should depend on how you intend to use it. Blending fresh fruit and grinding tough leafy greens are very different operations.
A 500-watt blender is generally considered adequate if all you are going to ask of it is to make milkshakes, mix pancake batter, or blend fresh fruit, but you’ll need a more powerful blender to up your cooking game or transition to whole foods or vegan diet.
Blenders in the 750-1000 watt range will enable you to perform more demanding tasks like creating frozen desserts, grinding grains and coffee, and making smooth sauces and dips. To truly experience all the benefits that a blender can bring to your life, though, you will need a 1500 watt blender or larger.
Blenders at this level can make:
- Batters
- Dips
- Dough
- Flour
- Frozen Desserts
- Hot Soups
- Nut Butters
- Pesto
- Salad Dressings
- Smoothies
- A host of other dishes
Of course, this is assuming that the blenders are of high quality. Bargain blenders are often built with substandard parts that can negatively impact their performance. As always, it is recommended you purchase a blender from a reputable brand with a reputation for producing quality blenders.
The brands that we consider the best of the best include:
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!