Convert BTU per Hour to Kilowatt (BTU/h → kW)

Converting BTU per hour to kilowatts is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.

1. 1
   Take your value in BTU per hour

   Start with the number of BTU per hour (BTU/h) you want to convert.
2. 2
   Multiply by 0.000293

   The conversion factor from BTU/h to kW is 0.000293. Multiply your value by this number.
3. 3
   Read the result in kilowatts

   The result is your value in kilowatts (kW).

Multiply the value in BTU per hour by 0.000293. For the reverse direction, multiply by 3,412.1416.

• ✓1 BTU/h = 0.293 W; 3412 BTU/h = 1 kW.
• ✓12,000 BTU/h = 1 ton of refrigeration.
• ✓Tons of AC rating: divide BTU/h by 12,000.

• ✗Confusing BTU (energy) with BTU/h (power) — same abbreviation in ads.
• ✗Mixing tons of AC and tons of weight — different concepts.
• ✗Using BTU/h for non-HVAC contexts.

What is the BTU per Hour?

BTU per hour (BTU/h or BTUh) is the standard rating for American heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration system capacity. A window air conditioner is typically 5,000–12,000 BTU/h, central residential AC ranges 24,000–60,000 BTU/h, and commercial chillers reach 100,000–1,000,000+ BTU/h. The unit's persistence in HVAC reflects American engineering tradition: it directly links cooling/heating capacity to the BTU energy unit familiar in gas-fired equipment. 12,000 BTU/h equals 'one ton of refrigeration' (a unit derived from the heat needed to melt 1 ton of ice in 24 hours), so AC sizes are sometimes given in 'tons' (a 3-ton AC = 36,000 BTU/h). BTU/h relates to the watt (1 W ≈ 3.412 BTU/h), the kilowatt (1 kW ≈ 3,412 BTU/h), and the ton of refrigeration (12,000 BTU/h = 1 ton). Outside the US, kW is dominant for HVAC capacity.

• US air conditioners and heat pumps
• US furnace and boiler ratings
• Some industrial heat-exchanger specs

What is the Kilowatt?

The kilowatt equals 1,000 watts and is the standard power rating for European cars, household appliances, and small industrial motors. European car engines are rated in kW (a typical economy car has 70–110 kW, a sports car 200–500 kW), even though horsepower is often quoted alongside for marketing. Major household appliances range from 1–3 kW (electric kettle, microwave) to 5–10 kW (electric oven, central air conditioning). Solar panel arrays for homes are sized in kW (typical residential system: 5–10 kW). Electric motors in industry are commonly rated 1 to 500 kW. The kilowatt relates to the watt (1,000 W = 1 kW), the megawatt (1,000 kW = 1 MW), horsepower (1 kW ≈ 1.341 hp), the BTU per hour (1 kW ≈ 3,412 BTU/h), and the kWh of energy when multiplied by hours.

• Car and motorcycle engine ratings (Europe)
• Home electrical service sizing
• HVAC and heating-pump capacity