How many kW is 12,000 BTU?

12,000 BTU/h = 3.52 kW. That is the classic "one ton" of cooling capacity.

How many kW is 24,000 BTU?

24,000 BTU/h = 7.03 kW of heating or cooling output — typical for a large living room or an open-plan floor.

Does this mean the unit draws that many kW of electricity?

No. For a heat pump or air conditioner, the BTU/h rating is heat output. Electrical input is output divided by COP (heating) or EER/SEER (cooling) — often three to four times smaller.

How do I convert BTU (energy) to kWh?

That is a different conversion: divide BTU by 3,412.142 to get kWh. Use BTU/h → kW for equipment capacity and BTU → kWh for fuel or gas consumption.

BTU to kW Converter | BTU/h to Kilowatts Calculator

Quick Answer: BTU per hour to Kilowatts

One BTU per hour equals 0.000293 kilowatts (1 BTU/h = 0.000293 kW).

Conversely, 1 kW = 3,412.14 BTU/h.

Formula: kW = BTU/h ÷ 3,412.142

Worked examples

5000 BTU/h = 1.465355 kW
6000 BTU/h = 1.758426 kW
9000 BTU/h = 2.637639 kW

Method and limitations

A BTU on its own is energy, not power — the rating stamped on heating and cooling equipment is BTU per hour. Divide BTU/h by 3,412.142 to get the same power expressed in kilowatts. Displayed values are rounded to a maximum of 6 significant decimals. Results are rounded for readability. Full precision is kept internally, so long chains of conversions do not accumulate rounding error. Where US customary and imperial units share a name (for example fluid ounces and gallons), this page uses the US customary definition.

Last updated: April 2026. Conversion factors follow internationally defined standards.

Conversion Formula

kW = BTU/h ÷ 3,412.142

A BTU on its own is energy, not power — the rating stamped on heating and cooling equipment is BTU per hour. Divide BTU/h by 3,412.142 to get the same power expressed in kilowatts.

Complete Guide to BTU per hour to Kilowatts Conversion

What is a BTU per hour?

BTU per hour (BTU/h) is the imperial power unit used for HVAC capacity in the US: air conditioners, mini-splits, furnaces and boilers are all rated in BTU/h, usually shortened to "BTU".

What is a Kilowatts?

Kilowatts (kW) are the SI power unit used for the same equipment in Europe and in every heat pump datasheet that follows EN 14511.

How the Conversion Works

One kilowatt equals 3,412.142 BTU/h, so dividing a BTU/h capacity by that factor gives the kW rating. Because both units express power, the conversion never needs a time period — the "per hour" is already inside BTU/h.

Why This Conversion Matters

Sizing a heat pump or air conditioner means matching capacity to heat loss. US equipment is quoted in BTU/h while European heat-loss calculations and heat pump datasheets use kW, so an incorrect conversion here leads directly to an oversized or undersized system.

Scientific Context

The relationship follows from the International Table BTU (1,055.05585262 J) and the definition of the watt as one joule per second: 1 kW = 3,600,000 J/h ÷ 1,055.056 J = 3,412.142 BTU/h.

Step-by-Step Conversion Guide

Follow these steps to convert btu per hour to kilowatts manually:

Start with your value in btu per hour

Example: You want to convert 9000 BTU/h

Apply the conversion formula

Use the formula: kW = BTU/h ÷ 3,412.142

Calculate the result

9000 BTU/h = 2.6376 kW

✓

Verify your answer

Use our calculator above to double-check your manual calculation.

Quick Mental Math Tip

A BTU on its own is energy, not power — the rating stamped on heating and cooling equipment is BTU per hour. Divide BTU/h by 3,412.142 to get the same power expressed in kilowatts.

Common Conversions

BTU per hour to Kilowatts conversion table
BTU per hour (BTU/h)	Kilowatts (kW)	Kilowatts → BTU per hour
5000	1.4654	5000 kW = 17060710 BTU/h
6000	1.7584	6000 kW = 20472852 BTU/h
9000	2.6376	9000 kW = 30709278 BTU/h
12000	3.5169	12000 kW = 40945704 BTU/h
18000	5.2753	18000 kW = 61418556 BTU/h
24000	7.0337	24000 kW = 81891408 BTU/h
30000	8.7921	30000 kW = 102364260 BTU/h
36000	10.5506	36000 kW = 122837112 BTU/h
48000	14.0674	48000 kW = 163782816 BTU/h
60000	17.5843	60000 kW = 204728520 BTU/h
100000	29.3071	100000 kW = 341214200 BTU/h

Frequently Asked Questions

No, and this is the most common error in HVAC specs. BTU is a quantity of energy; BTU/h is a rate of energy flow, i.e. power. Air conditioner and heat pump "BTU" ratings always mean BTU/h.