BTU per hour to kilowatts
Multiply BTU per hour by 0.000293071 to get kilowatts.
12,000 BTU/h = 3.5169 kW
How to convert BTU per hour to kilowatts
The kilowatt is one thousand watts — the metric unit for engine and appliance power. The BTU per hour is British thermal units per hour, about 0.293 watts — the standard rating for heating and cooling.
Worked example — 12,000 BTU/h: 12,000 × 0.000293071 = 3.5169 kW.
BTU per hour to kilowatts table
| BTU per hour | Kilowatts |
|---|---|
| 1,000 BTU/h | 0.293071 kW |
| 5,000 BTU/h | 1.4654 kW |
| 8,000 BTU/h | 2.3446 kW |
| 10,000 BTU/h | 2.9307 kW |
| 12,000 BTU/h | 3.5169 kW |
| 18,000 BTU/h | 5.2753 kW |
| 24,000 BTU/h | 7.0337 kW |
| 36,000 BTU/h | 10.5506 kW |
| 60,000 BTU/h | 17.5843 kW |
Reverse and related
About BTU per hour and kilowatts
BTU per hour (BTU/h)
1 BTU/h = 0.000293071 kWDefinition. British thermal units per hour, about 0.293 watts — the standard rating for heating and cooling
History and origin
BTU per hour measures the rate of heat transfer, pairing the British thermal unit with the hour. One BTU per hour is about 0.293 watts.
Current use
BTU per hour is the standard rating for air conditioners, heaters and furnaces, especially in the US, where a window unit might be 5,000 to 12,000 BTU/h.
Source: NIST SP 811, App. B (power). Mechanical hp = 550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 745.70 W; metric hp (PS) = 75 kgf·m/s = 735.49875 W
Kilowatt (kW)
1 kW = 3,412.1416 BTU/hDefinition. One thousand watts — the metric unit for engine and appliance power
History and origin
The kilowatt is one thousand watts, a metric multiple of the SI power unit. It gives practical numbers for engines and appliances.
Current use
Kilowatts rate car engines outside the United States, large appliances and electric-vehicle charging.
Source: NIST SP 811, App. B (power). Mechanical hp = 550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 745.70 W; metric hp (PS) = 75 kgf·m/s = 735.49875 W
Where people use this
BTU per hour: air conditioner and heater ratings, HVAC sizing. Kilowatts: car engines outside the US, appliances, EV charging. A 12,000 BTU/h air conditioner is about 3.5 kW.
Every value is carried to full double precision; the display is rounded.
Both units are defined in NIST SP 811, App. B (power). Mechanical hp = 550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 745.70 W; metric hp (PS) = 75 kgf·m/s = 735.49875 W.
Questions people ask
How many kW is 12,000 BTU/h?
A 12,000 BTU/h air conditioner is about 3.5 kW.
How many kW in a BTU per hour?
One BTU/h is about 0.000293 kW.
How many kW is 5,000 BTU/h?
5,000 BTU/h is about 1.47 kW.