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Convert BTU per Hour to Kilowatts

Instantly convert BTU per Hour (BTU/hr) to Kilowatts (kW) with our free online calculator.

Reviewed by Christopher FloiedUpdated

Formula: BTU/hr to kWmultiply by 2.9307e-4

Reference Table

BTU per Hour (BTU/hr)Kilowatts (kW)
10.000293071
50.00146536
100.00293071
250.00732678
500.0146536
1000.0293071

How to Convert BTU per Hour to Kilowatts

Formula

To convert BTU per Hour (BTU/hr) to Kilowatts (kW): multiply by 2.9307e-4

Step-by-Step

  1. Start with your value in BTU per Hour (BTU/hr).
  2. Multiply by 2.9307e-4 to perform the conversion.
  3. The result is your value expressed in Kilowatts (kW).

Conversion Factor

1 BTU/hr = 0.000293071 kW

Reverse Factor

1 kW = 3412.14 BTU/hr

Worked Example

Convert 25 BTU per Hour to Kilowatts: 25 BTU/hr = 0.00732678 kW

About BTU per Hour (BTU/hr)

An imperial unit of power (rate of heat transfer or thermal-energy flow), equal to ≈ 0.29307 watts per NIST SP 811 (= exactly 1/3,600 of 1,055.06 J/s in International Table form). BTU/hr is the dominant working unit for US HVAC equipment sizing per the ASHRAE Handbook, AHRI / NRCan / DOE equipment-rating standards, and the energy guide labels on every US-sold air conditioner, heat pump, water heater, and gas furnace. Reference values and the 'ton of refrigeration' convention: 12,000 BTU/hr ≈ 3.517 kW = exactly 1 'ton of refrigeration' (originally defined as the heat-removal rate to freeze 1 short ton of water in 24 hours); residential central-AC sizing 24,000-60,000 BTU/hr (2-5 tons); window AC 5,000-12,000 BTU/hr; mini-split heat pump 9,000-36,000 BTU/hr per indoor head; gas furnace input 40,000-100,000 BTU/hr residential / 200,000-500,000 BTU/hr light commercial; tank water heater 30,000-50,000 BTU/hr; tankless 150,000-200,000 BTU/hr; commercial natural-gas-fired boiler 0.5-50 million BTU/hr.

About Kilowatt (kW)

A metric unit of power equal to exactly 1,000 watts. kW is the practical working unit for residential and commercial-scale appliances, systems, and energy infrastructure: residential electricity-billing rate units (utility tariffs in kWh = kilowatt-hours of energy delivered); electric kettle 1.5-3 kW; electric oven element 2-5 kW per element; central AC compressor 3-5 kW per ton of refrigeration; whole-home generator 10-22 kW; EV motor peak power (Nissan Leaf 110 kW = 147 hp; Tesla Model 3 LR 180 kW = 241 hp; Tesla Model S Plaid combined three-motor 760 kW = 1,020 hp; Lucid Air Sapphire 936 kW = 1,256 hp); home rooftop solar PV system 5-15 kW; commercial-rooftop PV 50-500 kW; utility-scale PV 1-1,000 MW (note: MW not kW). HVAC equipment in metric markets is rated in kW alongside ton-of-refrigeration (1 ton = 3.517 kW). Convert kW to horsepower by multiplying by 1.341; to BTU/hr by multiplying by 3,412.

Quick Facts

  • 1 BTU per Hour equals 0.000293071 Kilowatts
  • 1 Kilowatt equals 3412.14 BTU per Hour
  • BTU per Hour is a unit of power
  • Kilowatt is a unit of power
  • This conversion is commonly used in electrical systems, automotive performance, and HVAC sizing
  • The BTU per Hour belongs to the imperial system
  • The Kilowatt belongs to the metric system

Common BTU per Hour to Kilowatt Conversions

BTU per Hour (BTU/hr)Kilowatts (kW)
0.010.00000293071
0.10.0000293071
0.250.0000732678
0.50.000146536
10.000293071
20.000586142
30.000879213
50.00146536
100.00293071
150.00439607
200.00586142
250.00732678
500.0146536
750.0219803
1000.0293071
2500.0732678
5000.146536
10000.293071
50001.46536
100002.93071

Understanding BTU per Hour

The BTU per Hour (symbol: BTU/hr) is a unit of power. An imperial unit of power (rate of heat transfer or thermal-energy flow), equal to ≈ 0.29307 watts per NIST SP 811 (= exactly 1/3,600 of 1,055.06 J/s in International Table form). BTU/hr is the dominant working unit for US HVAC equipment sizing per the ASHRAE Handbook, AHRI / NRCan / DOE equipment-rating standards, and the energy guide labels on every US-sold air conditioner, heat pump, water heater, and gas furnace. Reference values and the 'ton of refrigeration' convention: 12,000 BTU/hr ≈ 3.517 kW = exactly 1 'ton of refrigeration' (originally defined as the heat-removal rate to freeze 1 short ton of water in 24 hours); residential central-AC sizing 24,000-60,000 BTU/hr (2-5 tons); window AC 5,000-12,000 BTU/hr; mini-split heat pump 9,000-36,000 BTU/hr per indoor head; gas furnace input 40,000-100,000 BTU/hr residential / 200,000-500,000 BTU/hr light commercial; tank water heater 30,000-50,000 BTU/hr; tankless 150,000-200,000 BTU/hr; commercial natural-gas-fired boiler 0.5-50 million BTU/hr.

It belongs to the imperial measurement system.

BTU per Hour are commonly used in electrical systems, automotive performance, and HVAC sizing.

Understanding Kilowatts

The Kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit of power. A metric unit of power equal to exactly 1,000 watts. kW is the practical working unit for residential and commercial-scale appliances, systems, and energy infrastructure: residential electricity-billing rate units (utility tariffs in kWh = kilowatt-hours of energy delivered); electric kettle 1.5-3 kW; electric oven element 2-5 kW per element; central AC compressor 3-5 kW per ton of refrigeration; whole-home generator 10-22 kW; EV motor peak power (Nissan Leaf 110 kW = 147 hp; Tesla Model 3 LR 180 kW = 241 hp; Tesla Model S Plaid combined three-motor 760 kW = 1,020 hp; Lucid Air Sapphire 936 kW = 1,256 hp); home rooftop solar PV system 5-15 kW; commercial-rooftop PV 50-500 kW; utility-scale PV 1-1,000 MW (note: MW not kW). HVAC equipment in metric markets is rated in kW alongside ton-of-refrigeration (1 ton = 3.517 kW). Convert kW to horsepower by multiplying by 1.341; to BTU/hr by multiplying by 3,412.

It belongs to the metric measurement system.

Kilowatts are commonly used in electrical systems, automotive performance, and HVAC sizing.

Why Convert BTU per Hour to Kilowatts?

Power conversions between BTU per Hour and Kilowatts are needed in electrical engineering, automotive performance comparison, and HVAC system design. Motor ratings, generator capacities, and appliance specifications are published in different power units depending on the manufacturer and region.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert BTU per Hour to Kilowatts?

An imperial unit of power (rate of heat transfer or thermal-energy flow), equal to ≈ 0. To convert BTU per Hour to Kilowatts, multiply by 2.9307e-4. For example, 25 BTU/hr equals 0.00732678 kW.

How many Kilowatts are in 1 BTU per Hour?

There are 0.000293071 Kilowatts in 1 BTU per Hour.

How many BTU per Hour are in 1 Kilowatt?

There are 3412.14 BTU per Hour in 1 Kilowatt.

What is the formula for BTU per Hour to Kilowatt conversion?

The formula is: multiply by 2.9307e-4. This means 1 BTU/hr = 0.000293071 kW.

Is a BTU per Hour bigger than a Kilowatt?

Yes. One BTU per Hour is larger than one Kilowatt because 1 BTU/hr equals 0.000293071 kW, which is less than 1.

When do you need to convert between BTU per Hour and Kilowatts?

A metric unit of power equal to exactly 1,000 watts. BTU per Hour and Kilowatt are both power units, so conversion comes up whenever one source of information uses one unit and another uses the other — a classic cross-reference challenge in engineering, trade, travel, and everyday life.

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