BTU

What is a BTU?

Definition

A BTU (British Thermal Unit) is a unit of energy equal to about 1,055 joules, defined as the energy needed to raise 1 pound of water by 1°F.

Popular BTU Conversions

Most common conversions from BTUs

1 BTU = 1,055.06 J BTU to Joules 1 BTU = 1.0551 kJ BTU to Kilojoules 1 BTU = 252.1654 cal BTU to Calories 1 BTU = 0.252165 kcal BTU to Kilocalories 1 BTU = 0.293072 Wh BTU to Watt Hours 1 BTU = 0.0002930722 kWh BTU to Kilowatt Hours

History

The BTU was developed in the 19th century and remains common in the United States for heating, cooling, and energy applications.

Common Uses

HVAC system ratings
Natural gas billing
Water heater capacity
Fireplace and stove output

Fun Facts

💡

A typical window AC unit is 5,000-12,000 BTU

💡

1 therm equals 100,000 BTU

💡

A match releases about 1 BTU when burned

All BTU Conversions

BTUs to Joules BTU → J BTUs to Kilojoules BTU → kJ BTUs to Calories BTU → cal BTUs to Kilocalories BTU → kcal BTUs to Watt Hours BTU → Wh BTUs to Kilowatt Hours BTU → kWh BTUs to Electronvolts BTU → eV BTUs to Therms BTU → thm