BTU to kW converter
The exact factor is 1 BTU/h = 0.293071 W.
Your inputs
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- Enter your measurements.
- Check the units and the assumptions.
- Press Calculate, or load the example.
Rather see a worked case? Press “Load example” and change any value afterwards.
Next step
That kW is capacity, not consumption: the EER is what separates the two.
Where each number comes from Conversion constants are exact; densities and coverage rates come from cited sources; everything else is an assumption you can change. Methodology · Sources and updates
How to use it
- Type the amount you want to convert.
- The result appears immediately, with every equivalent.
- Check the nearest commercial size too.
- If the unit is advertised in another unit, use the reverse conversion.
How it is calculated
This is an exact conversion between units of power. They all measure the same thing (energy per unit of time), only the scale changes:
The three units that meet in air conditioning are the watt (SI), the BTU/h (English-speaking markets) and the frigorie per hour (Spain and Latin America). The ton of refrigeration, used for larger equipment, is 12,000 BTU/h by definition.
Keep in mind that all of these describe cooling capacity, that is, heat removed. Electricity consumption is a different quantity.
Worked example
A 12,000 BTU/h unit in kilowatts:
- 12,000 x 0.29307107 = 3,516.9 W = 3.52 kW
- In frigories: 3,024 frigories/h
- In tons of refrigeration: exactly 1 ton
12,000 BTU/h is by definition one ton of refrigeration, the power needed to melt one short ton of ice in 24 hours.
Good to know
- Capacity is not consumption. The BTU/h, frigories or kW on a label measure the heat the unit removes from the room, not the electricity it uses. For that you need the efficiency rating or the rated input power.
- Commercial sizes come in steps. Domestic units are built at 9,000, 12,000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTU/h, so the exact figure rarely matches a real model.
- Watch the round marketing numbers. A unit advertised as "3,000 frigories" is actually 11,905 BTU/h, and is usually sold as a 12,000.
Frequently asked questions
How many kW is 12,000 BTU?
3.52 kW of cooling capacity. Note: kilowatts of cooling produced, not electricity consumed.
How many kW is 9,000 BTU?
2.64 kW. And 18,000 BTU is 5.28 kW.
Is the kW on the label capacity or consumption?
Air conditioner labels usually give both: cooling capacity in kW and power input in kW or W. They are different numbers, and the second is far smaller.
What is a ton of refrigeration?
Exactly 12,000 BTU/h, or 3.517 kW. It comes from the power needed to melt one short ton of ice in a day.