Convert BTU to Joules
Convert BTU to Joules instantly. 1 BTU (BTU) equals 1,055.06 Joules (J).
BTU to Joules conversion table
| BTU (BTU) | Joules (J) |
|---|---|
| 1 BTU | 1,055.06 J |
| 2 BTU | 2,110.11 J |
| 3 BTU | 3,165.17 J |
| 5 BTU | 5,275.28 J |
| 10 BTU | 10,550.56 J |
| 20 BTU | 21,101.12 J |
| 50 BTU | 52,752.79 J |
| 100 BTU | 105,505.59 J |
| 500 BTU | 527,527.93 J |
| 1,000 BTU | 1,055,055.85 J |
1 BTU = 1,055.06 Joules · multiply BTU by 1,055.06
About converting BTU to Joules
BTU (BTU) and Joules (J) are both units of energy, so converting between them is a single multiplication: multiply your BTU figure by 1,055.06. Ten BTU comes to 10,550.56 Joules, and a hundred works out at 105,505.59 Joules.
Rule of thumb: going from BTU to Joules multiplies, so the figure always grows — one BTU is already 1,055.06 Joules. If your answer came out smaller, you have the conversion the wrong way round.
What is a BTU?
The BTU is the heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit — and there is no single BTU. Water takes slightly different amounts of heat to warm depending on the temperature it starts from, so several definitions exist (thermochemical, International Table, 39 °F, 59 °F, 60 °F and others), differing from one another by a fraction of a percent. This converter uses one common value, so treat the result as convention-dependent rather than absolute. In the US it is the unit of heating and cooling capacity, though air conditioners are really rated in BTU per hour and the "per hour" is routinely dropped in marketing.
What is a Joule?
The joule is the SI unit of energy and the reference every other energy unit here is defined against. One joule is one newton acting over one metre — push with a newton of force, move a metre, and you have spent a joule. It is named after James Prescott Joule, whose painstaking experiments established that heat and mechanical work are the same thing, measurable in the same units. That result sounds obvious now and was foundational then: it collapsed heat, motion and work into a single quantity called energy, which is why one unit can serve food, electricity, explosives and engines alike.
To put both in perspective: a wooden kitchen match releases roughly one BTU, while lifting an apple one metre takes about a joule.
The converter above updates as you type, and the table lists common values for quick reference. Need the opposite direction? Use the Joules to BTU converter, or browse all Energy converters.
Frequently asked questions
How many Joules are in one BTU?
There are 1,055.06 Joules in one BTU.
How do I convert BTU to Joules?
Multiply the number of BTU by 1,055.06. For example, 10 BTU = 10,550.56 Joules.
What is 100 BTU in Joules?
100 BTU is equal to 105,505.59 Joules.
How do I convert Joules to BTU?
Multiply the Joules value by 0.0009478 (or divide by 1,055.06).
Is this BTU to Joules conversion exact?
The figure is accurate to the precision shown. 1 BTU = 1,055.06 Joules is rounded for readability, so for engineering or scientific work carry more decimal places than the table displays.
What is a BTU?
The BTU is the heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit — and there is no single BTU. Water takes slightly different amounts of heat to warm depending on the temperature it starts from, so several definitions exist (thermochemical, International Table, 39 °F, 59 °F, 60 °F and others), differing from one another by a fraction of a percent. This converter uses one common value, so treat the result as convention-dependent rather than absolute. In the US it is the unit of heating and cooling capacity, though air conditioners are really rated in BTU per hour and the "per hour" is routinely dropped in marketing.
What is a Joule?
The joule is the SI unit of energy and the reference every other energy unit here is defined against. One joule is one newton acting over one metre — push with a newton of force, move a metre, and you have spent a joule. It is named after James Prescott Joule, whose painstaking experiments established that heat and mechanical work are the same thing, measurable in the same units. That result sounds obvious now and was foundational then: it collapsed heat, motion and work into a single quantity called energy, which is why one unit can serve food, electricity, explosives and engines alike.