Convert energy units — joules, calories, kilowatt-hours, BTU, kilojoules.
| Unit | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| J | Joule | 1055.06 |
| kJ | Kilojoule | 1.05506 |
| cal | Calorie | 252.16539 |
| kcal | Kilocalorie (Cal) | 0.25216539 |
| kWh | Kilowatt-hour | 0.00029307222 |
Formula: Kilowatt-Hour = BTU × 0.0002931
Multiply any btu value by 0.0002931 to get kilowatt-hour.
Reverse: BTU = Kilowatt-Hour × 3412
Common btu values — factor: 1 BTU = 0.0002931 kWh
| BTU (BTU) | Kilowatt-Hour (kWh) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 BTU | 0.0002931 kWh | Match |
| 10 BTU | 0.002931 kWh | 10 BTU |
| 100 BTU | 0.02931 kWh | Space heater second |
| 1,000 BTU | 0.2931 kWh | 1 kBTU |
| 3,412 BTU | 1 kWh | 1 kWh |
| 1e+04 BTU | 2.931 kWh | 10 kBTU |
| 1e+05 BTU | 29.31 kWh | 1 therm |
| 1e+06 BTU | 293.1 kWh | 1 MMBTU |
| 1e+07 BTU | 2,931 kWh | 10 MMBTU |
| 1e+08 BTU | 2.931e+04 kWh | 100 MMBTU |
| 1.000e+09 BTU | 2.931e+05 kWh | 1 billion BTU |
| 1.000e+10 BTU | 2.931e+06 kWh | 10 billion BTU |
| 1.000e+12 BTU | 2.931e+08 kWh | 1 quad fraction |
| 1.000e+15 BTU | 2.931e+11 kWh | 1 quad |
| 1.000e+18 BTU | 2.931e+14 kWh | 1000 quads |
1 BTU = 0.0002931 kWh. Memorize for instant estimates.
Use 0.0002931 as a quick mental multiplier.
Multiply result by 3412 to recover the original BTU value.
Sizes heating and cooling systems rated in BTU/hour for US buildings.
Certifies boiler output and efficiency ratings in BTU/hour.
Prices natural gas supply and usage in BTU and therms.
Calculates heating loads and heat loss in BTU for US properties.
Rates commercial refrigeration and ice-making capacity in BTU.
Specifies heat exchanger capacity and furnace output in BTU/hour.
The British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the traditional Imperial energy unit, defined as the heat required to raise 1 pound of water by 1°F. It equals 1,055.06 joules and has been used since the 19th century in heating, air conditioning, and gas billing.
BTU remains dominant in US HVAC: air conditioners and heaters are rated in BTU/hour. Natural gas is priced in therms (100,000 BTU) in the US. Furnaces are rated in BTU/hour output.
Interesting fact: A typical US home furnace is rated at 80,000–120,000 BTU/hour. One BTU is roughly the energy released by burning one kitchen match. The US natural gas pipeline system delivers about 25 quadrillion BTU (quads) per year.
The kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the commercial unit of electrical energy, equal to the energy consumed by a 1,000-watt appliance in one hour (3,600,000 joules). It became standard with the growth of the electrical grid in the late 19th century.
Electricity bills worldwide are denominated in kWh. A typical household uses 300–1,000 kWh per month. An electric car uses about 15–25 kWh per 100 km. Solar panels generate 250–400 kWh per year per panel.
Interesting fact: The average price of electricity in the US is about $0.12 per kWh. One kWh can run a 100W light bulb for 10 hours, charge a smartphone about 100 times, or power a laptop for 2-3 days.
Converting btu to kilowatt-hour is common across energy, nutrition, engineering, and science. Different sectors use different energy units — joules in physics, kcal in nutrition, kWh in electricity, and BTU in HVAC — making accurate conversion essential for cross-disciplinary work and international comparisons.
Quick reference: 5 BTU = 0.001465 kWh and 10 BTU = 0.002931 kWh. Reverse: 1 kWh = 3412 BTU. Exact factor: 1 BTU = 0.0002931 kWh.
All conversions use IEEE 754 double-precision arithmetic, accurate to at least 8 significant figures.