850 hp in the quarter mile at 2,200–4,600 lb
How Fast Is 850 Horsepower?
With 850 hp a 3,500 lb car should run roughly 9.34 seconds at 146.0 mph through the quarter mile. Change the weight below to see how your own car stacks up.
- 1/8-mile ET
- 5.98 sec
- 1/8-mile speed
- 116.8 mph
- Trap speed
- 235.0 km/h
- Weight per hp
- 4.12 lb/hp
- Conservative ET (Huntington)
- 10.08 sec
- Conservative trap (Huntington)
- 139.8 mph
850 hp quarter-mile times by weight
| Race weight | 1/4 mile ET | Trap speed | 0–60 (RWD) | lb per hp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,200 lb | 8.00 s | 170.4 mph | 1.63 s | 2.59 |
| 2,600 lb | 8.46 s | 161.2 mph | 1.86 s | 3.06 |
| 3,000 lb | 8.87 s | 153.7 mph | 2.08 s | 3.53 |
| 3,400 lb | 9.25 s | 147.4 mph | 2.30 s | 4.00 |
| 3,800 lb | 9.60 s | 142.0 mph | 2.52 s | 4.47 |
| 4,200 lb | 9.92 s | 137.4 mph | 2.73 s | 4.94 |
| 4,600 lb | 10.23 s | 133.3 mph | 2.93 s | 5.41 |
850 hp is dedicated drag-racing power: the realm of extreme builds where traction and a safe chassis, not power, are the limits. These numbers come from the ideal-traction formula, so treat the quicker end of each range as a best case.
The estimate uses the widely published Patrick Hale equations: ET = 5.825 × (weight ÷ hp)1/3 and MPH = 234 × (hp ÷ weight)1/3, with weight in pounds and hp measured at the crank. They are documented, along with the more conservative Huntington (6.290 / 224) and Fox constants, in Stealth316’s horsepower / ET / MPH calculator notes. See the full formulas and sources page.
What weight does 850 hp need to run a certain ET?
| Target ET | Max weight at 850 hp | Trap speed |
|---|---|---|
| 14.00 s | 11,801 lb | 97.4 mph |
| 13.00 s | 9,448 lb | 104.9 mph |
| 12.00 s | 7,431 lb | 113.6 mph |
| 11.00 s | 5,724 lb | 123.9 mph |
| 10.00 s | 4,301 lb | 136.3 mph |
| 9.00 s | 3,135 lb | 151.5 mph |
For example, 850 hp is enough to run a 12.00 second quarter in a car up to 7,431 lb, and a 10.00 second pass at 4,301 lb or lighter.
850 hp compared with 800 and 900 hp
At 3,500 lb, going from 800 to 850 hp saves 0.19 s, and going on to 900 hp saves a further 0.18 s. Gains shrink as power rises because ET follows a cube root, so the same 50 hp is worth less each time. At 850 hp, the 1/8-mile ET for 3,500 lb is about 5.98 s at 116.8 mph.
The power-to-weight of a 3,500 lb car with 850 hp is 4.12 lb per hp, or 535 hp per tonne. See all horsepower comparisons.
Frequently asked questions
How fast is 850 hp in the quarter mile?
A 3,500 lb car with 850 crank hp is estimated at 9.34 s at 146.0 mph. Lighter cars are quicker, heavier ones slower.
How fast is 850 hp from 0 to 60?
At 3,500 lb a rear-wheel-drive car estimates about 2.36 s, all-wheel drive about 2.17 s.
Is 850 wheel hp the same as 850 hp?
No. If 850 is wheel horsepower, the crank figure is higher, about 1,000 hp on a rear-wheel-drive car. Use the WHP to HP converter.
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