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Convert kWh to BTU
Convert kilowatt-hour (kWh) to british thermal unit (BTU) instantly. Free, no signup, nothing is uploaded — everything runs in your browser.
Kilowatt-hour to British thermal unit conversion table
| Kilowatt-hour [kWh] | British thermal unit [BTU] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 34.12141642 |
| 0.1 | 341.21416416 |
| 1 | 3,412.1416416 |
| 2 | 6,824.2832832 |
| 3 | 10,236.4249248 |
| 5 | 17,060.70820801 |
| 10 | 34,121.41641601 |
| 20 | 68,242.83283202 |
| 50 | 170,607.08208006 |
| 100 | 341,214.16416012 |
| 1,000 | 3,412,141.64160125 |
How to convert kilowatt-hour to british thermal unit
BTU = kWh × 3412.142
Example: 1 kWh = 3412.14 BTU
To convert back (british thermal unit to kilowatt-hour): kWh = BTU ÷ 3412.142
What is a kilowatt-hour?
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy equal to 1,000 watts used for one hour. The standard unit for electricity bills.
What is a british thermal unit?
A British thermal unit (BTU) is a unit of energy equal to the heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Standard unit for HVAC, gas bills, and water heaters in the US.
When do you need to convert kilowatt-hour to british thermal unit?
HVAC sizing is the most common kWh → BTU conversion. Air conditioners are rated in BTU/h (cooling capacity), but seasonal energy use is on the electricity bill in kWh. A 3-ton (36,000 BTU/h) AC running 8 hours a day in summer uses 36,000 × 8 ÷ 3,412.14 = 84.4 kWh/day, which at $0.15/kWh is about $12.65 per day. Knowing the kWh equivalent of your BTU/hour rating helps estimate running costs.
Comparing electricity and gas appliances. Water heaters, furnaces, and gas ranges are rated in BTU/h; electric equivalents are rated in watts or kW. A 40,000 BTU/h gas furnace is 11.72 kW of heat input. A 12 kW electric furnace delivers about the same heat (with slightly different efficiency). The conversion lets you compare fuel costs: 11.72 kW × $0.15/kWh × 1 hour = $1.76, vs. 40,000 BTU × $1.20/therm (where 1 therm = 100,000 BTU) = $0.48. The gas furnace is much cheaper to run per BTU of heat delivered.
Energy monitoring and solar production reports. Solar arrays and home battery systems often report production in kWh, but homeowners compare this to historical gas/electric use in BTU. A 10 kW solar array producing 4 hours of peak sun = 40 kWh/day = 136,485 BTU/day, useful for comparing to a home that uses 50,000 BTU/day for heating.
Frequently asked questions
How many BTU is 1 kWh?
1 kWh = 3,412.14 BTU, by exact definition (1 BTU = 1,055.06 J, and 1 kWh = 3,600,000 J, so 3,600,000 ÷ 1,055.06 = 3,412.14). The factor 3,412.14 is exact to 6 sig figs.
How many kWh is 1 BTU?
1 BTU = 0.00029307 kWh, the reverse. 1,000 BTU = 0.29307 kWh, and 1,000,000 BTU (1 therm) = 293.07 kWh. Useful for gas bill calculations and HVAC energy estimation.
Is a therm the same as a BTU?
No. A therm is 100,000 BTU. A CCF (hundred cubic feet) of natural gas is 1.037 therms, or about 103,700 BTU. Gas bills are usually in therms or CCF, not raw BTU. 1 therm = 0.29307 kWh, so a typical US household using 50 therms/month of gas uses 14.65 kWh-equivalent of energy, even though the gas meter does not show kWh.
How do I estimate monthly AC electricity cost?
Multiply the BTU/h rating × hours of use per month, divide by 3,412.14 to get kWh, then multiply by your electricity rate. Example: a 12,000 BTU/h window AC running 8 hours/day for 30 days = 2,880,000 BTU ÷ 3,412.14 = 843.85 kWh. At $0.15/kWh, that is $126.58 for the month.