BTU per Hour to Watts Converter
Convert BTU per hour to watts — 3.412 BTU/h to the watt. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One BTU per hour is 0.2931 watts — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the btu per hour to watts 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).
The UK is metric for most trade and science but keeps miles, pints, stone and mpg (with the imperial gallon) in daily life.
Common power conversions
| From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 BTU/h | 293.0711 W | BTU per hour to watts |
| 3,412 BTU/h | 999.9585 W | BTU per hour to watts |
| 5,000 BTU/h | 1,465.3554 W | BTU per hour to watts |
| 9,000 BTU/h | 2,637.6396 W | BTU per hour to watts |
| 12,000 BTU/h | 3,516.8528 W | BTU per hour to watts |
| 18,000 BTU/h | 5,275.2793 W | BTU per hour to watts |
| 24,000 BTU/h | 7,033.7057 W | BTU per hour to watts |
| 30,000 BTU/h | 8,792.1321 W | BTU per hour to watts |
| 36,000 BTU/h | 10,550.5585 W | BTU per hour to watts |
| 48,000 BTU/h | 14,067.4114 W | BTU per hour to watts |
| 60,000 BTU/h | 17,584.2642 W | BTU per hour to watts |
| 100,000 BTU/h | 29,307.107 W | BTU per hour to watts |
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 watts is 1,000 BTU/h?
293 W.
What is 12,000 BTU/h?
3,517 W — one ton of refrigeration.
Why do air conditioners use BTU?
US convention that travelled with the equipment. Metric markets rate the same machines in kilowatts.
What is 3,412 BTU/h?
Exactly one kilowatt.
Does BTU/h mean the power drawn?
No — it is the heat moved. Electrical input is typically a third to a quarter of it.
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 Physical Laboratory (NPL) — United Kingdom's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.