Convert Kilowatt-hours to BTU
Convert Kilowatt-hours to BTU instantly. 1 Kilowatt-hour (kWh) equals 3,412.14 BTU (BTU).
Kilowatt-hours to BTU conversion table
| Kilowatt-hours (kWh) | BTU (BTU) |
|---|---|
| 1 kWh | 3,412.14 BTU |
| 2 kWh | 6,824.28 BTU |
| 3 kWh | 10,236.42 BTU |
| 5 kWh | 17,060.71 BTU |
| 10 kWh | 34,121.42 BTU |
| 20 kWh | 68,242.83 BTU |
| 50 kWh | 170,607.08 BTU |
| 100 kWh | 341,214.16 BTU |
| 500 kWh | 1,706,070.82 BTU |
| 1,000 kWh | 3,412,141.64 BTU |
1 Kilowatt-hour = 3,412.14 BTU · multiply Kilowatt-hours by 3,412.14
About converting Kilowatt-hours to BTU
Kilowatt-hours (kWh) and BTU (BTU) are both units of energy, so converting between them is a single multiplication: multiply your Kilowatt-hours figure by 3,412.14. Ten Kilowatt-hours comes to 34,121.42 BTU, and a hundred works out at 341,214.16 BTU.
Rule of thumb: going from Kilowatt-hours to BTU multiplies, so the figure always grows — one Kilowatt-hour is already 3,412.14 BTU. If your answer came out smaller, you have the conversion the wrong way round.
What is a Kilowatt-hour?
The kilowatt-hour is the unit your electricity bill is charged in, and almost the only energy unit most people meet by name. It is energy, not power: a kilowatt is a rate of use, a kilowatt-hour is the amount consumed by running at that rate for an hour. Utilities bill in kWh because that is what they actually deliver — a meter counts accumulated energy, not instantaneous demand. It is also the unit that sizes batteries. An EV pack and a home storage unit are both quoted in kilowatt-hours, so the figure tells you how much range or backup you have bought, while the kilowatt rating only says how fast it can be delivered.
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.
To put both in perspective: an electric car covers roughly five kilometres on a kilowatt-hour, while a wooden kitchen match releases roughly one BTU.
The converter above updates as you type, and the table lists common values for quick reference. Need the opposite direction? Use the BTU to Kilowatt-hours converter, or browse all Energy converters.
Frequently asked questions
How many BTU are in one Kilowatt-hour?
There are 3,412.14 BTU in one Kilowatt-hour.
How do I convert Kilowatt-hours to BTU?
Multiply the number of Kilowatt-hours by 3,412.14. For example, 10 Kilowatt-hours = 34,121.42 BTU.
What is 100 Kilowatt-hours in BTU?
100 Kilowatt-hours is equal to 341,214.16 BTU.
How do I convert BTU to Kilowatt-hours?
Multiply the BTU value by 0.0002931 (or divide by 3,412.14).
Is this Kilowatt-hours to BTU conversion exact?
The figure is accurate to the precision shown. 1 Kilowatt-hour = 3,412.14 BTU is rounded for readability, so for engineering or scientific work carry more decimal places than the table displays.
What is a Kilowatt-hour?
The kilowatt-hour is the unit your electricity bill is charged in, and almost the only energy unit most people meet by name. It is energy, not power: a kilowatt is a rate of use, a kilowatt-hour is the amount consumed by running at that rate for an hour. Utilities bill in kWh because that is what they actually deliver — a meter counts accumulated energy, not instantaneous demand. It is also the unit that sizes batteries. An EV pack and a home storage unit are both quoted in kilowatt-hours, so the figure tells you how much range or backup you have bought, while the kilowatt rating only says how fast it can be delivered.
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.