kWh to BTU Converter
Convert kilowatt-hours to British thermal units — one kWh is 3,412 BTU. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One kilowatt-hour is 3,412.1416 British thermal units — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the kwh to btu converter works
Energy converts through the joule. A thermochemical calorie is exactly 4.184 J, so a food Calorie (kcal) is 4.184 kJ. A kilowatt-hour is exactly 3.6 MJ. A BTU is 1,055.056 J and a US therm is 100,000 BTU.
The US uses customary units (US gallon, short ton, °F) in daily life; NIST SP 811 gives the exact SI factors.
Common energy conversions
| From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1 kWh | 341.2142 BTU | kilowatt-hours to British thermal units |
| 0.25 kWh | 853.0354 BTU | kilowatt-hours to British thermal units |
| 0.5 kWh | 1,706.0708 BTU | kilowatt-hours to British thermal units |
| 1 kWh | 3,412.1416 BTU | kilowatt-hour to British thermal units |
| 2 kWh | 6,824.2833 BTU | kilowatt-hours to British thermal units |
| 3 kWh | 10,236.4249 BTU | kilowatt-hours to British thermal units |
| 5 kWh | 17,060.7082 BTU | kilowatt-hours to British thermal units |
| 10 kWh | 34,121.4163 BTU | kilowatt-hours to British thermal units |
| 20 kWh | 68,242.8327 BTU | kilowatt-hours to British thermal units |
| 50 kWh | 170,607.0817 BTU | kilowatt-hours to British thermal units |
| 100 kWh | 341,214.1633 BTU | kilowatt-hours to British thermal units |
| 1,000 kWh | 3,412,141.6331 BTU | kilowatt-hours to British thermal units |
Units in this converter and their exact factors
| Unit | Symbol | One unit in joules |
|---|---|---|
| joule | J | 1 joule |
| kilojoule | kJ | 1,000 joule |
| megajoule | MJ | 1,000,000 joule |
| calorie (thermochemical) | cal | 4.184 joule |
| kilocalorie (food Calorie) | kcal | 4,184 joule |
| watt-hour | Wh | 3,600 joule |
| kilowatt-hour | kWh | 3,600,000 joule |
| British thermal unit | BTU | 1,055.05585262 joule |
| therm (US) | thm | 105,505,585.262 joule |
| foot-pound | ft·lb | 1.3558179483 joule |
FAQFrequently asked questions about energy conversion
How many BTU in a kWh?
3,412.14 BTU.
What is a BTU?
The energy to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit — about 1,055 joules.
Why are air conditioners rated in BTU?
A US convention for heating and cooling capacity; the rest of the world uses kilowatts.
What is a 12,000 BTU air conditioner in kW?
3.52 kW of cooling — also called one ton of refrigeration.
Is BTU energy or power?
Energy. BTU per hour is the power rating, and air conditioners are usually quoted in BTU/h with the "per hour" dropped.
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.