BTU to Kilowatt-hours Converter
Common Conversions
| BTU | kWh |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.000293 |
| 10 | 0.00293 |
| 100 | 0.02931 |
| 1000 | 0.29307 |
| 3412.14 | 1 |
| 5000 | 1.4654 |
| 10000 | 2.931 |
| 50000 | 14.654 |
| 100000 | 29.307 |
| 500000 | 146.54 |
| 1000000 | 293.07 |
| 10000000 | 2930.7 |
Why this conversion matters in chemistry
Heat pump versus gas math runs through this conversion. A 50-therm winter US gas bill (1 therm = 100,000 BTU) is 5,000,000 BTU, equivalent to 1466 kWh of fuel energy at the panel. A heat pump with COP 3 covering the same heating load draws about 489 kWh of electricity — the comparison the homeowner needs the units for. The ratio of 2.93071 × 10⁻⁴ kWh per BTU is just 1 BTU = 1055.06 J and 1 kWh = 3.6 × 10⁶ J. In practice you reach for it when a thermal-fuel quantity meets an electrical-energy ledger.
Formula
kWh = BTU × 0.000293071
Worked Examples
3412.14 BTU = 1 kWh
The reverse anchor — about how many BTU make a kWh.
1 BTU = 0.000293 kWh
The conversion anchor — one BTU in kWh.
100000 BTU = 29.307 kWh
One US therm of natural gas — the unit a residential gas bill itemizes.
10000 BTU = 2.931 kWh
About the heat output of a small benchtop furnace per hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert BTU to kWh?
Multiply by 0.000293071. So 3412.14 BTU becomes 1 kWh. The factor is exact through 1 BTU = 1055.06 J and 1 kWh = 3.6 × 10⁶ J.
When does this conversion show up?
Comparing the energy content of a thermal fuel (BTU on the gas bill) against electrical consumption (kWh on the electric bill). Industrial chemical-process energy reporting uses both units depending on whether the input is fuel or electricity.
What is a BTU?
A British Thermal Unit is the energy needed to raise 1 lb of water by 1 °F. It works out to about 1055 J — close to a kJ. The unit lives in US heating and cooling specs and in pipeline-gas pricing.