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BTU per Hour to Gigawatt Converter

Convert BTU/h to gigawatts with our free online power converter.

Quick Answer

1 BTU per Hour = 2.930711e-10 gigawatts

Formula: BTU per Hour × conversion factor = Gigawatt

Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.

Our Accuracy Guarantee

All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.

Last verified: February 2026Reviewed by: Sam Mathew, Software Engineer

BTU per Hour to Gigawatt Calculator

How to Use the BTU per Hour to Gigawatt Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (BTU per Hour).
  2. The converted value in Gigawatt will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Power category.
  4. Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
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How to Convert BTU per Hour to Gigawatt: Step-by-Step Guide

Converting BTU per Hour to Gigawatt involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

GW = BTU/h × 2.93071e-10

Example Calculation:

1 BTU/h = 2.930711e-10 GW

Disclaimer: For Reference Only

These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.

Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.

Need to convert to other power units?

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What is a BTU per Hour and a Gigawatt?

1 BTU/h = 0.293 W = 0.000293 kW

Key equivalents:

  • 3,412 BTU/h = 1 kW
  • 12,000 BTU/h = 1 ton of refrigeration = 3.52 kW
  • 1 BTU/h = 0.2931 W

1 GW = 1,000,000,000 W = 1,000 MW = 1,000,000 kW = 1,341,022 hp = 3.412 billion BTU/h

Note: The BTU per Hour is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Gigawatt belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

Common Uses and Applications: BTU/h vs gigawatts

Explore the typical applications for both BTU per Hour (imperial/US) and Gigawatt (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for BTU/h

Air Conditioning: Window units (5,000-18,000 BTU/h), central systems (18,000-60,000 BTU/h). Furnaces: Home heating (40,000-150,000 BTU/h input). Water Heaters: Gas water heaters (30,000-50,000 BTU/h). HVAC Design: Load calculations, equipment sizing, ductwork design.

When to Use gigawatts

Power Plants: Nuclear reactors, coal plants, large hydro dams (1-3 GW each). National Grids: Total generation capacity for countries/regions. Energy Policy: Renewable energy targets, grid expansion planning. Data Centers: Massive hyperscale facilities (approaching 1 GW).

Additional Unit Information

About BTU per Hour (BTU/h)

How many BTU/h do I need for air conditioning?

Basic calculation: Room square footage × 20-25 BTU/h

Adjustments:

  • Sunny room: Add 10%
  • Shaded room: Subtract 10%
  • Kitchen: Add 4,000 BTU/h
  • More than 2 people: Add 600 BTU/h per person
  • High ceilings (>8 ft): Add 10-20%

Examples:

  • 200 sq ft bedroom: 4,000-5,000 BTU/h (5,000 BTU window unit)
  • 400 sq ft living room: 8,000-10,000 BTU/h (10,000 BTU window unit)
  • 1,500 sq ft home: 30,000-36,000 BTU/h (2.5-3 ton central AC)

[BTU/h calculator for HVAC sizing]

How do I convert BTU/h to watts or kW?

Formula:

  • Watts = BTU/h × 0.293
  • kW = BTU/h ÷ 3,412

Examples:

  • 12,000 BTU/h = 3,517 W = 3.52 kW (1 ton AC)
  • 24,000 BTU/h = 7,034 W = 7.03 kW (2 ton AC)
  • 10,000 BTU/h = 2,930 W = 2.93 kW (window unit)
  • 1,000 BTU/h = 293 W

BTU/h to Watts converter → BTU/h to kW converter →

What is the difference between BTU and BTU/h?

BTU = Energy (total heat/cooling) BTU/h = Power (rate of heating/cooling)

Analogy:

  • BTU = distance traveled (miles)
  • BTU/h = speed (miles per hour)

Example:

  • A 10,000 BTU/h air conditioner removes 10,000 BTU of heat per hour
  • Running for 3 hours removes 30,000 BTU total

Always use BTU/h when rating HVAC equipment capacity!

How many BTU/h equals 1 ton of refrigeration?

1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h = 3.52 kW

Origin: Based on melting 1 ton (2,000 lbs) of ice in 24 hours

Common AC sizes:

  • 1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h (small rooms, ~400-600 sq ft)
  • 1.5 tons = 18,000 BTU/h (larger rooms, ~600-900 sq ft)
  • 2 tons = 24,000 BTU/h (small homes, ~900-1,200 sq ft)
  • 2.5 tons = 30,000 BTU/h (medium homes, ~1,200-1,500 sq ft)
  • 3 tons = 36,000 BTU/h (larger homes, ~1,500-1,800 sq ft)
  • 4 tons = 48,000 BTU/h (large homes, ~2,000-2,400 sq ft)
  • 5 tons = 60,000 BTU/h (very large homes, ~2,400-3,000 sq ft)

BTU/h to Tons converter →

How efficient is my furnace or AC?

Furnace efficiency (AFUE):

  • Old furnace: 60-70% AFUE
  • Standard: 80% AFUE (80,000 BTU/h input → 64,000 BTU/h heat output)
  • High-efficiency: 90-98% AFUE

AC efficiency (SEER):

  • Old AC: SEER 8-10 (inefficient)
  • Standard: SEER 13-14 (minimum new units)
  • High-efficiency: SEER 16-20
  • Ultra-high: SEER 20-26

EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) = BTU/h output ÷ watts input

  • Good window AC: EER 10-12
  • Excellent: EER 12+

About Gigawatt (GW)

How do I convert GW to MW or kW?

Formula:

  • MW = GW × 1,000
  • kW = GW × 1,000,000
  • W = GW × 1,000,000,000

Examples:

  • 1 GW = 1,000 MW = 1,000,000 kW
  • 2.5 GW = 2,500 MW = 2,500,000 kW
  • 0.5 GW = 500 MW = 500,000 kW

GW to MW converter → GW to kW converter →

How much power is 1.21 gigawatts?

Reference: "Back to the Future" flux capacitor requirement

1.21 GW = 1,210 MW = 1,210,000 kW

Equivalent to:

  • ~1 nuclear reactor at full output
  • ~600 large wind turbines (2 MW each)
  • ~400,000 US homes' average consumption
  • ~1,620,000 horsepower
  • Lightning bolt peak: ~1 TW (1,000 GW) for microseconds, but 1.21 GW sustained is massive

Reality: No practical way to extract 1.21 GW from a lightning bolt (too brief, unpredictable)

How many homes can 1 GW power?

Average US home: ~1.2 kW average draw (30 kWh/day ÷ 24 hours)

1 GW = 1,000,000 kW

Calculation: 1,000,000 kW ÷ 1.2 kW/home ≈ 833,000 homes

Regional variations:

  • Southwest US (high AC use): ~600,000 homes per GW
  • Northeast US: ~700,000-800,000 homes per GW
  • Pacific Northwest: ~900,000-1,000,000 homes per GW

Peak vs average: During peak demand (hot summer afternoon), 1 GW powers fewer homes (~300,000-500,000).

What is the world's largest power plant?

Three Gorges Dam (China): 22.5 GW capacity

  • Type: Hydroelectric
  • Turbines: 34 generators
  • Annual generation: ~100 TWh/year
  • Location: Yangtze River

Other massive plants:

  • Itaipu Dam (Brazil/Paraguay): 14 GW
  • Xiluodu Dam (China): 13.86 GW
  • Belo Monte Dam (Brazil): 11.23 GW
  • Guri Dam (Venezuela): 10.2 GW

Largest nuclear (single site): Kashiwazaki-Kariwa (Japan): 7.97 GW (7 reactors)

How do countries measure their energy capacity?

Installed capacity: Total GW of all power plants (nameplate rating)

Actual generation: Lower than capacity due to:

  • Capacity factor: % of time at full output
  • Maintenance downtime
  • Fuel availability
  • Grid demand

Example - US (2024):

  • Installed capacity: ~1,200 GW
  • Peak demand: ~740 GW (summer)
  • Average demand: ~450 GW

Capacity factor by source:

  • Nuclear: 90-95% (runs constantly)
  • Coal: 40-60%
  • Natural gas: 30-60%
  • Wind: 25-45%
  • Solar: 15-30%

Conversion Table: BTU per Hour to Gigawatt

BTU per Hour (BTU/h)Gigawatt (GW)
0.50
10
1.50
20
50
100
250
500
1000
2500
5000
1,0000

People Also Ask

How do I convert BTU per Hour to Gigawatt?

To convert BTU per Hour to Gigawatt, enter the value in BTU per Hour in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our power converter page to convert between other units in this category.

Learn more →

What is the conversion factor from BTU per Hour to Gigawatt?

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between BTU per Hour and Gigawatt. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.

Can I convert Gigawatt back to BTU per Hour?

Yes! You can easily convert Gigawatt back to BTU per Hour by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Gigawatt to BTU per Hour converter page. You can also explore other power conversions on our category page.

Learn more →

What are common uses for BTU per Hour and Gigawatt?

BTU per Hour and Gigawatt are both standard units used in power measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our power converter for more conversion options.

For more power conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.

Helpful Conversion Guides

Learn more about unit conversion with our comprehensive guides:

📚 How to Convert Units

Step-by-step guide to unit conversion with practical examples.

🔢 Conversion Formulas

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⚖️ Metric vs Imperial

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⚠️ Common Mistakes

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Other Power Units and Conversions

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Verified Against Authority Standards

All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.

NIST Reference on Constants, Units and Uncertainty

National Institute of Standards and Technology — Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions

BIPM SI Units

Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards

ISO 80000

International Organization for Standardization — Quantities and units international standards series

Last verified: February 19, 2026