BTU/hr to Watts
Convert British Thermal Units per hour (BTU/hr) to watts (W). Commonly used for cooling capacity systems.
Interactive Electricity Flow Simulator
Watch the flow of electricity (electrons) change speed in real-time based on calculated wattage!
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HVAC Heat Exchanger conversion
BTU measures thermal energy. 1 BTU/hr is the rate of heat dissipation. In refrigeration/air conditioning, 12,000 BTU/hr represents 1 Ton of cooling capacity.
Understanding BTU/hr and Watts
A British Thermal Unit per hour (BTU/hr) is an imperial unit of power measuring thermal heat transfer speed. One BTU/hr is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of liquid water by 1°F in one hour. In electrical equivalents, one BTU/hr is equal to approximately 0.29307107 Watts.
HVAC systems, air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces list capacity in BTUs, while the power they consume is measured in electrical Watts. Sizing your electrical panel requires checking both.
A 12,000 BTU/hr air conditioner extracts 3,517W of heat energy, but because of high heat pump efficiency (SEER), it only draws about 1,000W of actual electrical power.
How to Convert BTU/hr to Watts
To convert thermal capacity in BTU/hr to electrical equivalent Watts, use the multiplier constant:
Example: Convert a standard 12,000 BTU/hr air conditioner to electrical power equivalent Watts:
P(W) = 12,000 × 0.29307107 = 3,516.85 W (or 3.52 kW)
Common Cooling Sizes & Power Needs
| Room Size (Sq Ft) | Recommended BTU | Electrical Wattage Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 150 - 250 sq ft | 6,000 BTU/hr | ~1,758 W |
| 350 - 450 sq ft | 10,000 BTU/hr | ~2,930 W |
| 550 - 700 sq ft | 14,000 BTU/hr | ~4,103 W |
| 1,000 sq ft + (Whole House) | 24,000 BTU/hr (2 Tons) | ~7,034 W |