Btu To Kilowatts
Calculator
Results
- Power (kW)
- 3.516852
- Power (W)
- 3,516.852463
- Power (hp)
- 4.716176
HVAC and plumbing results
| Power (kW) | 3.516852 |
| Power (W) | 3,516.852463 |
| Power (hp) | 4.716176 |
formula-map diagram
- Power (kW)
- 3.516852
- Power (W)
- 3,516.852463
- Power (hp)
- 4.716176
HVAC and plumbing relationship
Formula
kW = BTU/h ÷ 3412.142= 3.5168524639361
Note
This is a simplified model: it applies a standard engineering formula to the numbers you entered. Conversions between BTU/h and kW use the exact factor 1 kW = 3412.142 BTU/h, but every sizing figure is an estimate. Air conditioner sizing uses the common 20 BTU/h per square foot rule of thumb, not a room-by-room load calculation, and it ignores insulation, glazing, orientation, ceiling height, infiltration and local climate. Heating loads use a single volumetric heat-loss factor in W/m³·K rather than a fabric-by-fabric U-value calculation. Air properties are fixed at 1.2 kg/m³ and water at 1000 kg/m³ and 4186 J/kg·K, with no correction for temperature, altitude or glycol. Duct and pipe results use the ideal continuity equation and ignore fittings, bends, roughness and system effect unless you enter those losses yourself. The Hazen-Williams equation is valid only for water in full turbulent flow at ordinary temperatures. Water hammer uses the Joukowsky surge, an upper bound for instant closure. Tank drainage assumes a prismatic tank and steady free discharge. Hot water recovery and condensate figures ignore standing losses and coil bypass. Size real systems with a proper heat-loss survey and have the work checked by a qualified HVAC or plumbing professional.
More in HVAC and plumbing
See all →Frequently asked questions
What's the exact conversion factor between BTU/hr and kilowatts?+
One watt equals approximately 3.412 BTU per hour, so to convert BTU/hr to kilowatts you divide by 3,412. A 12,000 BTU/hr air conditioner, for example, converts to roughly 3.5 kW of cooling capacity.
Why do HVAC spec sheets mix BTU and kilowatts?+
BTU per hour is the traditional unit in North American HVAC marketing and nameplate ratings, while kilowatts is the SI unit used in most of the rest of the world and in electrical load calculations. Manufacturers selling internationally often list both.
Is this the same conversion used for electrical power consumption?+
Not directly — this conversion relates to heating or cooling output (thermal energy transfer rate), not the electrical power an appliance draws from the wall. A unit's electrical input in kW is usually much lower than its thermal output in kW because of its efficiency (COP or EER).
Can I use this to compare two air conditioners rated in different units?+
Yes, converting both figures to the same unit — either BTU/hr or kW — is exactly the right way to compare cooling or heating capacity between products listed with different manufacturers' conventions.
Why is my converted kilowatt figure not a round number?+
Because the conversion factor (3.412) isn't a round number itself, converting standard BTU ratings like 9,000, 12,000, or 18,000 BTU/hr produces kW values with decimals (2.64, 3.52, 5.28) rather than clean round figures.