BTU to kWh Converter
Convert British thermal units to kilowatt-hours. 1 BTU ≈ 0.000293 kWh.
Result
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How to use this calculator
- Enter BTU.
- Read equivalent kWh and other energy units.
About this calculator
BTUs are common in HVAC (heaters, ACs) and boilers in the US. 1 BTU is the energy to raise 1 lb of water by 1°F — about 1055 J. 100,000 BTU is roughly 29.3 kWh, or one therm of natural gas. Useful when comparing electric vs gas heating costs.
Frequently asked
BTU vs BTU/hr?+
BTU is energy. BTU/hr is power (rate). A 24,000 BTU/hr AC delivers 24,000 BTU per hour — that's ~7 kW of cooling.
What is a "therm"?+
100,000 BTU. Common gas-bill unit. ~29.3 kWh.
Why use BTU at all?+
US legacy in HVAC. The rest of the world uses kW for the same thing. You'll see HVAC equipment specced in BTU/hr (US) or W/kW (everywhere else).
How does this compare to calories?+
1 BTU = 252.16 small calories or 0.25216 kilocalories (food calories).
Conversion accuracy?+
The exact factor is 1 BTU = 1055.05585 J. Various standards vary by 0.01% (IT vs thermochemical BTU).
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Calorie to Joule Converter
1 cal (thermochemical) = 4.184 J. 1 kcal (food calorie) = 4,184 J.
BTU for Room Cooling Calculator
BTU/hr needed = ft² × climate factor (20-30 BTU/ft² for typical US climates).
BTU for Room Heating Calculator
Heating BTU/hr = ft² × insulation factor × ΔT.
kWh Cost Per Month
Cost = W × hr/day × 30 / 1000 × $/kWh.