Watts, kWh, BTU and tons converter
1 watt = 3.412 BTU per hour. 1 kWh = 3,412 BTU. 1 ton of cooling = 12,000 BTU per hour. 1 therm = 100,000 BTU. Type in any box.
Watts to BTU per hour
| Watts | BTU/hr |
|---|---|
| 100 W | 341 BTU/hr |
| 500 W | 1,706 BTU/hr |
| 1,000 W | 3,412 BTU/hr |
| 1,500 W | 5,118 BTU/hr |
| 2,000 W | 6,824 BTU/hr |
| 3,000 W | 10,236 BTU/hr |
| 5,000 W | 17,060 BTU/hr |
A 1,500 W space heater puts out about 5,118 BTU per hour of heat, because electric resistance heat turns all its watts into heat.
BTU per hour to watts and tons
| BTU/hr | Watts (heat) | Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 BTU/hr | 1,465 W | 0.42 tons |
| 8,000 BTU/hr | 2,345 W | 0.67 tons |
| 10,000 BTU/hr | 2,931 W | 0.83 tons |
| 12,000 BTU/hr | 3,517 W | 1 tons |
| 18,000 BTU/hr | 5,275 W | 1.5 tons |
| 24,000 BTU/hr | 7,034 W | 2 tons |
| 36,000 BTU/hr | 10,551 W | 3 tons |
| 60,000 BTU/hr | 17,584 W | 5 tons |
Careful: an air conditioner's BTU rating is the heat it removes, not the electricity it uses. A 12,000 BTU room AC draws roughly 816–1,101 W. See the BTU calculator and what is a BTU.