BTUs to Joules Converter
Convert British thermal units to joules instantly. Type a value, change either unit, or press swap to go the other way. 1 British thermal unit = 1,055.0559 joules.
1 British thermal unit = 1,055.0559 joules
How to convert British thermal units to joules
joules = British thermal units × 1,055.055853
To convert British thermal units to joules, multiply the value by 1,055.055853. To go back from joules to British thermal units, divide by the same number (or multiply by 0.0009478171).
Worked examples
- 100 BTU: 100 × 1,055.055853 = 105,505.59 J
- 1,000 BTU: 1,000 × 1,055.055853 = 1,055,055.9 J
- 5,000 BTU: 5,000 × 1,055.055853 = 5,275,279.3 J
One BTU is just over one kilojoule (1.055 kJ). Multiply BTUs by roughly 1,055 to get joules.
BTUs to Joules conversion table
British Thermal Units to Joules
| BTU | J |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1,055.0559 |
| 10 | 10,550.559 |
| 100 | 105,505.59 |
| 1,000 | 1,055,055.9 |
| 5,000 | 5,275,279.3 |
| 12,000 | 12,660,670 |
| 18,000 | 18,991,005 |
| 24,000 | 25,321,340 |
| 50,000 | 52,752,793 |
| 100,000 | 105,505,585 |
Joules to British Thermal Units
| J | BTU |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.0009478171 |
| 10 | 0.0094781712 |
| 100 | 0.094781712 |
| 1,000 | 0.94781712 |
| 5,000 | 4.7390856 |
| 12,000 | 11.373805 |
| 18,000 | 17.060708 |
| 24,000 | 22.747611 |
| 50,000 | 47.390856 |
| 100,000 | 94.781712 |
Energy equivalents
See how one British thermal unit and one joule compare with every other energy unit on the site.
1 British thermal unit equals
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| joules (J) | 1,055.056 |
| kilojoules (kJ) | 1.055056 |
| calories (small) (cal) | 252.1644 |
| kilocalories (food Calories) (kcal) | 0.2521644 |
| watt-hours (Wh) | 0.2930711 |
| kilowatt-hours (kWh) | 0.0002930711 |
1 joule equals
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| kilojoules (kJ) | 0.001 |
| calories (small) (cal) | 0.2390057 |
| kilocalories (food Calories) (kcal) | 0.0002390057 |
| watt-hours (Wh) | 0.0002777778 |
| kilowatt-hours (kWh) | 2.777778 × 10-7 |
| British thermal units (BTU) | 0.0009478171 |
When you need to convert British thermal units to joules
BTUs describe the heating and cooling capacity of furnaces, air conditioners and gas appliances in North America. Joules are the standard in science and in most other countries. Converting lets you compare equipment ratings and compute energy costs on a consistent basis.
About the units
British thermal unit (BTU)
One BTU (International Table) is about 1,055 joules, the heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. It is used to rate air conditioners and furnaces.
Joule (J)
The joule is the SI unit of energy: the work done by a force of one newton over one meter. A small apple lifted one meter takes about one joule.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert British thermal units to joules?
Multiply the number of British thermal units by 1,055.055853. For example, 10 British thermal units × 1,055.055853 = 10,550.55853 joules.
How many joules are in one British thermal unit?
There are 1,055.055853 joules in one British thermal unit.
How many British thermal units are in one joule?
There are 0.0009478171 British thermal units in one joule.
What does the BTU rating on an air conditioner mean?
It is the amount of heat the unit can remove per hour (BTU/h). A 12,000 BTU/h unit, often called "one ton" of cooling, removes heat at a rate of about 3.5 kilowatts.
Can I convert other energy units with this tool?
Yes. Use the From and To drop-downs in the converter to choose any energy unit, or press the swap button to reverse the conversion. All calculations use internationally defined conversion factors.