BTU Converter - Convert British Thermal Units to Joules, Calories
Result:
1 BTU = 1055.06 J
How BTU Conversion Works
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Understanding BTU Conversions
What is BTU?
BTU means British Thermal Unit. It measures heat energy. One BTU heats one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Why Convert BTU?
Different countries use different energy units. Converting BTU helps compare energy costs and understand appliance ratings worldwide.
BTU Conversion Table
| BTU | J | cal | kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 106 | 25.2 | 0.000029 |
| 0.5 | 528 | 126.1 | 0.000147 |
| 1 | 1055 | 252.2 | 0.000293 |
| 2 | 2110 | 504.3 | 0.000586 |
| 5 | 5275 | 1260.8 | 0.001465 |
| 10 | 10551 | 2521.6 | 0.002930 |
| 15 | 15826 | 3782.4 | 0.004395 |
| 20 | 21101 | 5043.2 | 0.005860 |
| 25 | 26377 | 6304.0 | 0.007325 |
| 30 | 31652 | 7564.8 | 0.008790 |
| 40 | 42202 | 10086.4 | 0.011720 |
| 50 | 52753 | 12608.0 | 0.014650 |
| 75 | 79130 | 18912.0 | 0.021975 |
| 100 | 105506 | 25216.0 | 0.029300 |
| 150 | 158259 | 37824.0 | 0.043950 |
BTU Units Progression Chart
1 BTU
5 BTU
10 BTU
25 BTU
50 BTU
100 BTU
Practice Problems
Problem 1:
Convert 5 BTU to joules
Solution:
5 BTU × 1,055.06 J/BTU = 5,275.3 J
Answer: 5,275 joules
Problem 2:
Convert 10,000 joules to BTU
Solution:
10,000 J ÷ 1,055.06 J/BTU = 9.48 BTU
Answer: 9.48 BTU
Problem 3:
Convert 2 BTU to calories
Solution:
2 BTU × 252.16 cal/BTU = 504.3 cal
Answer: 504 calories
Problem 4:
Convert 1 kWh to BTU
Solution:
1 kWh × 3,412.14 BTU/kWh = 3,412 BTU
Answer: 3,412 BTU
Problem 5:
Convert 50 BTU to kWh
Solution:
50 BTU × 0.000293 kWh/BTU = 0.0147 kWh
Answer: 0.015 kWh
Problem 6:
How many BTU in 1,000 calories?
Solution:
1,000 cal ÷ 252.16 cal/BTU = 3.97 BTU
Answer: 3.97 BTU
What is BTU?
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. It measures heat energy. One BTU is the heat needed to warm one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Think of it like this: if you have a pound of water at 60°F, adding one BTU makes it 61°F.
BTU is very common in heating and cooling. Air conditioners show BTU ratings. A 5,000 BTU air conditioner can cool a small bedroom. A 12,000 BTU unit cools a large living room. More BTU means more cooling power.
Gas appliances also use BTU. Your gas stove, water heater, and furnace all have BTU ratings. Higher BTU means they can heat things faster and hotter.
Our BTU converter changes BTU to other energy units. You can convert to joules, calories, or kilowatt-hours. This helps you compare energy costs and understand how much energy different appliances use.
BTU in Simple Terms
Heats 1 pound of water by 1°F
Joules of energy
Small calories
How to Use the BTU Converter
Enter Your Value
Type the BTU number you want to convert in the input box. You can use whole numbers or decimals.
Choose From Unit
Select the unit you are converting from. This could be BTU, joules, calories, or kilowatt-hours.
Pick To Unit
Choose the unit you want to convert to. The result will show instantly as you make your selection.
Get Results
See your converted value immediately. You can also print or download the results for later use.
Common BTU Conversions
BTU to Other Units
- 1 BTU = 1,055.06 Joules
- 1 BTU = 252.16 Calories
- 1 BTU = 0.000293 kWh
- 1 BTU = 1.055 kJ
Other Units to BTU
- 1 Joule = 0.000948 BTU
- 1 Calorie = 0.003968 BTU
- 1 kWh = 3,412.14 BTU
- 1 kJ = 0.948 BTU
BTU in Real Life
Air Conditioners
Window AC units are rated in BTU. A 5,000 BTU AC can cool a small room, while 12,000 BTU units cool larger spaces.
Heaters
Gas heaters and furnaces show BTU output. Higher BTU means more heat. A typical home furnace ranges from 40,000 to 100,000 BTU.
Gas Grills
Outdoor grills list BTU ratings for their burners. More BTU means hotter cooking temperatures and faster heating.
Water Heaters
Gas water heaters show BTU input ratings. Higher BTU heaters can heat water faster and recover quicker after use.
Energy Bills
Natural gas usage on utility bills is often measured in BTU or therms. One therm equals 100,000 BTU.
Food Energy
Food calories can be converted to BTU. One food calorie (kcal) equals about 3.97 BTU of energy.
BTU Conversion Tips
Quick Memory Tricks
- •1 BTU ≈ 1,000 Joules (close enough for quick estimates)
- •1 BTU ≈ 250 Calories (food calories are different)
- •3,400 BTU ≈ 1 kWh (useful for energy costs)
Common Mistakes
- ×Don't confuse food calories with physics calories
- ×BTU per hour is power, not energy
- ×Different BTU definitions exist (use IT BTU for accuracy)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does BTU stand for?
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. It measures the amount of heat energy needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
How many joules are in one BTU?
One BTU equals exactly 1,055.06 joules. This is the standard conversion factor used in most scientific and engineering applications.
Why do air conditioners use BTU ratings?
BTU ratings tell you how much heat an air conditioner can remove from a room in one hour. Higher BTU means more cooling power for larger spaces.
Is BTU the same as calories?
No, BTU and calories are different. One BTU equals about 252 small calories or 0.252 food calories (kilocalories). Food labels use kilocalories.
How do I convert BTU to kilowatt-hours?
Divide BTU by 3,412.14 to get kilowatt-hours. For example, 10,000 BTU ÷ 3,412.14 = 2.93 kWh. This helps compare energy costs.
What size AC do I need for my room?
Generally, you need about 20 BTU per square foot. A 200 sq ft room needs about 4,000 BTU. Consider ceiling height, windows, and insulation too.