How to Convert British thermal units to Kilowatt-hours (BTU to kWh)
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 kilowatt-hours by hand, with examples and a quick-reference table.
The conversion
To convert british thermal units to kilowatt-hours, multiply the value by 0.0002930711. To go the other way, divide by the same number (or multiply by 3,412.1416416012). Because the factor is tiny, scientific notation keeps the numbers manageable.
Kilowatt-hours = british thermal units × 0.0002930711
Worked examples
- 3 BTU = 0.000879 kWh
- 12.5 BTU = 0.003663 kWh
- 75 BTU = 0.02198 kWh
British thermal units to Kilowatt-hours table
| British thermal units | Kilowatt-hours |
|---|---|
| 1 BTU | 0.000293 kWh |
| 2 BTU | 0.000586 kWh |
| 5 BTU | 0.001465 kWh |
| 10 BTU | 0.002931 kWh |
| 20 BTU | 0.005861 kWh |
| 25 BTU | 0.007327 kWh |
| 50 BTU | 0.014654 kWh |
| 100 BTU | 0.029307 kWh |
| 250 BTU | 0.073268 kWh |
| 500 BTU | 0.146536 kWh |
| 1,000 BTU | 0.293071 kWh |
Common questions
Is BTU to kWh 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 Kilowatt-hours to British thermal units converter.
Mistakes to avoid
Dropping the units
A bare number without a unit is easy to misread later. Always write the unit with the result.
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.
Multiplying when you should divide
Converting to a smaller unit gives a bigger number, and converting to a larger unit gives a smaller one. If your answer moves the wrong way, you have inverted the factor.
Background
A conversion table is handy for common values, but a calculator is faster and avoids interpolation errors for anything in between.
For everyday use, three or four significant figures are usually enough. Engineering, science and trade documents may need more, and rounding should happen only at the end of a calculation.
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.
For any value, use the British thermal units to Kilowatt-hours Converter or browse all energy converters.
Run your own numbers: British thermal units to Kilowatt-hours Converter