How many BTU in 1 kWh?

1 kWh = 3,412.14 BTU. Multiply your electricity usage in kWh by 3,412 to compare with a gas appliance's BTU rating.

How do I compare electricity and gas heating costs?

Convert kWh to BTU (×3,412.14), then divide by the gas appliance BTU/hr rating to get run hours. Multiply by the gas rate per BTU to compare costs. Remember to account for efficiency differences.

My heat pump is rated 12,000 BTU — how many kWh does it use per hour?

BTU/hr ÷ 3,412.14 gives the cooling/heating capacity in kW. 12,000 ÷ 3,412 ≈ 3.52 kW of capacity. Actual electricity drawn depends on the COP/EER efficiency rating.

Kilowatt-hours to BTU Converter

1 kWh = 3,412.14 BTU. Multiply kilowatt-hours by 3,412.14 to get BTU. A 1 kW heater = 3,412 BTU/hr.

Inverse conversion

1 BTU = 0.000293071 kWh. Divide BTUs by 3,412.14 to get kilowatt-hours. 10,000 BTU/hr = 2.931 kW.

BTU to Kilowatt-hours →

Formula

BTU = kWh × 3,412.14

Worked example

To convert 5 kWh to BTU: 5 × 3,412.14 = 17,060.7 BTU.

Quick reference table

kWh	BTU
0.5	1706.070817
1	3412.141633
2	6824.283266
5	17060.708166
10	34121.416331
20	68242.832663
50	170607.081656
100	341214.163313
500	1706070.816564

Unit definitions

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 3,600,000 J. The standard unit for electricity billing.

BTU (BTU)

A BTU (British Thermal Unit) ≈ 1,055.06 J. Used in US HVAC and heating system ratings.

Common use cases

Electricity to heating fuel comparisons
Boiler and furnace sizing
Energy audit reporting
Comparing electric heat to gas heat

BTU to Joules Kilowatt-hours to Joules

Frequently asked questions

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