How to convert kilowatt-hours to British thermal units
Formula: BTU = kWh × 3,412.14
Worked example: 100 kWh → 100 × 3,412.14 = 341,214 BTU
One kilowatt-hour equals 3,412.14 BTU. This lets you compare electric and gas heating: a gas furnace delivering 30,000 BTU per hour supplies about 8.8 kW of heat.
Kilowatt-hours to British thermal units conversion chart
| Kilowatt-hours (kWh) | British thermal units (BTU) |
|---|---|
| 1 kWh | 3,412.14 BTU |
| 2 kWh | 6,824.28 BTU |
| 3 kWh | 10,236.4 BTU |
| 4 kWh | 13,648.6 BTU |
| 5 kWh | 17,060.7 BTU |
| 6 kWh | 20,472.8 BTU |
| 7 kWh | 23,885 BTU |
| 8 kWh | 27,297.1 BTU |
| 9 kWh | 30,709.3 BTU |
| 10 kWh | 34,121.4 BTU |
| 12 kWh | 40,945.7 BTU |
| 15 kWh | 51,182.1 BTU |
| 20 kWh | 68,242.8 BTU |
| 25 kWh | 85,303.5 BTU |
| 30 kWh | 102,364 BTU |
| 40 kWh | 136,486 BTU |
| 50 kWh | 170,607 BTU |
| 75 kWh | 255,911 BTU |
| 100 kWh | 341,214 BTU |
| 250 kWh | 853,035 BTU |
| 500 kWh | 1,706,071 BTU |
| 1,000 kWh | 3,412,142 BTU |
What is a kilowatt-hour?
The kilowatt-hour equals 1,000 watt-hours, or 3.6 megajoules. It is the unit on every electricity bill and for electric car batteries: a 2,000 W heater running for 3 hours uses 6 kWh.
What is a British thermal unit?
The British thermal unit, about 1,055 joules, is the heat needed to warm one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. US furnaces, water heaters, grills and natural gas are rated in BTU.