kWh to Megajoules Converter
Convert kilowatt-hours to megajoules — multiply by 3.6. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One kilowatt-hour is 3.6 megajoules — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the kwh to megajoules 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 | 0.36 MJ | kilowatt-hours to megajoules |
| 0.5 kWh | 1.8 MJ | kilowatt-hours to megajoules |
| 1 kWh | 3.6 MJ | kilowatt-hour to megajoules |
| 2 kWh | 7.2 MJ | kilowatt-hours to megajoules |
| 5 kWh | 18 MJ | kilowatt-hours to megajoules |
| 10 kWh | 36 MJ | kilowatt-hours to megajoules |
| 20 kWh | 72 MJ | kilowatt-hours to megajoules |
| 50 kWh | 180 MJ | kilowatt-hours to megajoules |
| 100 kWh | 360 MJ | kilowatt-hours to megajoules |
| 200 kWh | 720 MJ | kilowatt-hours to megajoules |
| 500 kWh | 1,800 MJ | kilowatt-hours to megajoules |
| 1,000 kWh | 3,600 MJ | kilowatt-hours to megajoules |
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 MJ in a kWh?
3.6.
Why 3.6?
A kilowatt for an hour is 1,000 joules per second for 3,600 seconds — 3,600,000 J, or 3.6 MJ.
How do I compare a gas and an electricity bill?
Convert both to the same unit. 1 kWh is 3.6 MJ.
What is 20 kWh in MJ?
72 MJ.
What does a home use?
Typically 8 to 30 kWh of electricity a day, which is 29 to 108 MJ.
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.