Watts to BTU per Hour Converter
Convert watts to BTU per hour — one watt is 3.412 BTU/h. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One watt is 3.4121 BTU per hour — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the watts to btu per hour converter works
Power converts through the watt. Mechanical horsepower is 550 ft·lbf/s = 745.6999 W; metric horsepower (PS, used in European car specs) is 735.4988 W. Air-conditioner capacities are quoted in kW, BTU/h (1 W = 3.412 BTU/h) or tons of refrigeration (3.517 kW).
Australia is fully metric under the National Measurement Act 1960; imperial units appear only in trade with the US and in older documents.
Common power conversions
| From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 100 W | 341.2142 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
| 250 W | 853.0354 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
| 500 W | 1,706.0708 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
| 1,000 W | 3,412.1416 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
| 1,500 W | 5,118.2125 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
| 2,000 W | 6,824.2833 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
| 2,500 W | 8,530.3541 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
| 3,000 W | 10,236.4249 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
| 5,000 W | 17,060.7082 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
| 7,500 W | 25,591.0623 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
| 10,000 W | 34,121.4164 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
| 20,000 W | 68,242.8327 BTU/h | watts to BTU per hour |
Units in this converter and their exact factors
| Unit | Symbol | One unit in watts |
|---|---|---|
| watt | W | 1 watt |
| kilowatt | kW | 1,000 watt |
| megawatt | MW | 1,000,000 watt |
| horsepower (mechanical) | hp | 745.6998715823 watt |
| metric horsepower (PS) | PS | 735.49875 watt |
| BTU per hour | BTU/h | 0.29307107 watt |
| ton of refrigeration | TR | 3,516.8528421 watt |
FAQFrequently asked questions about power conversion
How many BTU/h is 1 watt?
3.412 BTU/h.
What is a 2,000 W heater in BTU/h?
6,824 BTU/h.
Why convert?
Heating appliances are rated in watts in metric markets and BTU/h in the US, so comparing them needs one unit.
Is a 1,500 W heater the same everywhere?
The power is, yes — 5,118 BTU/h. What differs is only the label.
What does a person emit?
About 100 W at rest, or 341 BTU/h — which is why a full room heats up.
Where these figures come from
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure, 9th edition) — definitions of the base and derived units.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units — the exact conversion factors used here.
- National Measurement Institute (NMI) — Australia's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.