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 US uses customary units (US gallon, short ton, °F) in daily life; NIST SP 811 gives the exact SI factors.
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 Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — United States's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.