BTU to Joules Converter
Convert BTU to joules and joules to BTU for energy calculations.
Common BTU to Joules Reference Table
| BTU | Joules (J) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,055.06 | One British thermal unit |
| 5 | 5,275.3 | Five BTU |
| 10 | 10,550.6 | Ten BTU |
| 100 | 105,506 | One hundred BTU |
| 1,000 | 1,055,060 | One thousand BTU |
| 3,412.14 | 3,600,000 | One kilowatt-hour of energy |
BTU and Joules Conversion Formulas
Converting between BTU and joules relies on a single fixed conversion factor. One British thermal unit (BTU) is defined as exactly 1055.06 joules, so each conversion is a simple multiplication or division.
BTU to Joules
J = BTU × 1055.06
Example: 10 BTU × 1055.06 = 10,550.6 J
Joules to BTU
BTU = J ÷ 1055.06
Example: 5,000 J ÷ 1055.06 = 4.73907 BTU
Understanding BTU and Joules
The British thermal unit (BTU) is a unit of energy traditionally used in heating, cooling, and the power industries, especially in the United States. One BTU is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
The joule (J) is the SI unit of energy. One joule is the work done when a force of one newton moves an object one meter. Using the standard relationship of 1 BTU = 1055.06 joules lets you convert between the customary and metric energy systems precisely.
Key Reference Values
- One BTU: 1 BTU = 1,055.06 J. The base conversion factor used throughout this calculator.
- Ten BTU: 10 BTU = 10,550.6 J. A handy multiple for quick mental estimates.
- One kilojoule: 1,000 J = 0.94782 BTU. Useful when working from metric energy figures.
- One kilowatt-hour: 3,600,000 J = 3,412.14 BTU. A common unit on energy and utility bills.