How to Convert British thermal units to Kilocalories (BTU to kcal)
Energy conversions link food labels in kJ and kcal, SP Group bills in kWh and air-conditioner capacity in BTU. This guide shows how to convert british thermal units into kilocalories by hand, with examples and a quick-reference table.
The conversion
To convert british thermal units to kilocalories, multiply the value by 0.2521644001. To go the other way, divide by the same number (or multiply by 3.9656668412). For a quick estimate, multiply by about 0.25.
Kilocalories = british thermal units × 0.2521644001
Worked examples
- 3 BTU = 0.756493 kcal
- 12.5 BTU = 3.1521 kcal
- 75 BTU = 18.9123 kcal
British thermal units to Kilocalories table
| British thermal units | Kilocalories |
|---|---|
| 1 BTU | 0.252164 kcal |
| 2 BTU | 0.504329 kcal |
| 5 BTU | 1.2608 kcal |
| 10 BTU | 2.5216 kcal |
| 20 BTU | 5.0433 kcal |
| 25 BTU | 6.3041 kcal |
| 50 BTU | 12.6082 kcal |
| 100 BTU | 25.2164 kcal |
| 250 BTU | 63.0411 kcal |
| 500 BTU | 126.0822 kcal |
| 1,000 BTU | 252.1644 kcal |
Common questions
Is BTU to kcal exact?
The factors used here are the internationally defined values where they exist; results are rounded for display only.
How do I convert back?
Use the Kilocalories to British thermal units converter.
Mistakes to avoid
Mixing similar-sounding units
US and imperial gallons, pints and tons are different sizes, and decimal kilobytes differ from binary kibibytes.
Forgetting squared and cubed units
Area and volume factors are the length factor squared or cubed, so 1 m² is about 10.76 sq ft, not 3.28.
Rounding the factor too early
Using 3 instead of 3.28 for feet per metre introduces an error of almost 9% before you have started.
Background
Writing the units next to every number while you work is the simplest way to avoid mistakes. If the units do not cancel to leave the one you want, the calculation is set up wrongly.
Unit conversion is simply multiplication by a fixed ratio. The ratio between two units of the same quantity never changes, so once you know it you can convert any value in either direction.
Many conversion factors are exact by definition. The inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres since 1959, and the pound as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms, so conversions involving them can be as precise as you need.
For any value, use the British thermal units to Kilocalories Converter or browse all energy converters.
Run your own numbers: British thermal units to Kilocalories Converter