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Kilocalorie per Hour to BTU per Hour Converter

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

Quick Answer

1 Kilocalorie per Hour = 3.965667 BTU/h

Formula: Kilocalorie per Hour × conversion factor = BTU per Hour

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

Kilocalorie per Hour to BTU per Hour Calculator

How to Use the Kilocalorie per Hour to BTU per Hour Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Kilocalorie per Hour).
  2. The converted value in BTU per Hour 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 Kilocalorie per Hour to BTU per Hour: Step-by-Step Guide

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

Formula:

BTU/h = kcal/h × 3.96567

Example Calculation:

1 kcal/h = 3.965667 BTU/h

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.

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What is a Kilocalorie per Hour and a BTU per Hour?

1 kcal/h = 1.163 W = 0.001163 kW = 0.00156 hp = 3.968 BTU/h = 4,184 J/h

Note: Uses food Calorie (Cal) = kilocalorie (kcal) = 1,000 small calories

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

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

Common Uses and Applications: kcal/h vs BTU/h

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

Common Uses for kcal/h

Metabolism: Basal metabolic rate (BMR), daily energy expenditure. Nutrition: Energy requirements, dietary planning. HVAC: Human body heat load in building calculations (Europe). Sports Science: Exercise energy expenditure, training zones.

When to Use 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.

Additional Unit Information

About Kilocalorie per Hour (kcal/h)

How do I convert kcal/h to watts?

Formula: W = kcal/h × 1.163

Examples:

  • 60 kcal/h = 70 W (sleeping)
  • 100 kcal/h = 116 W (sitting)
  • 500 kcal/h = 582 W (running)
  • 1,000 kcal/h = 1,163 W = 1.16 kW

kcal/h to Watts converter →

How do I calculate my basal metabolic rate (BMR)?

Mifflin-St Jeor Equation (most accurate):

Men: BMR (kcal/day) = 10 × weight(kg) + 6.25 × height(cm) - 5 × age(years) + 5 Women: BMR (kcal/day) = 10 × weight(kg) + 6.25 × height(cm) - 5 × age(years) - 161

Convert to kcal/h: Divide by 24

Example - 30-year-old male, 80kg, 180cm:

  • BMR = (10 × 80) + (6.25 × 180) - (5 × 30) + 5 = 1,730 kcal/day
  • Hourly rate: 1,730 ÷ 24 = 72 kcal/h = 84 W

Example - 30-year-old female, 65kg, 165cm:

  • BMR = (10 × 65) + (6.25 × 165) - (5 × 30) - 161 = 1,370 kcal/day
  • Hourly rate: 1,370 ÷ 24 = 57 kcal/h = 66 W

What is the difference between kcal/h and cal/s?

kcal/h = Kilocalories per hour (large Calorie per hour) cal/s = Calories per second (small calorie per second)

Conversion: 1 cal/s = 3.6 kcal/h

Usage:

  • kcal/h: Metabolism, nutrition (aligns with daily calorie counts)
  • cal/s: Physics, thermodynamics

Example: 100W power

  • As watts: 100 W
  • As kcal/h: 86 kcal/h
  • As cal/s: 24 cal/s

How many kcal/h do I burn exercising?

MET (Metabolic Equivalent) method:

Formula: kcal/h = MET × weight(kg) × 1.05

Common MET values:

  • Sleeping: 0.9 METs
  • Sitting: 1.0 METs
  • Walking (3 mph): 3.5 METs
  • Jogging (5 mph): 8.0 METs
  • Running (7 mph): 11.5 METs
  • Cycling (moderate): 8.0 METs
  • Swimming (moderate): 8.0 METs

Example - 70kg person running at 7 mph:

  • kcal/h = 11.5 × 70 × 1.05 = 845 kcal/h = 982 W

Example - 70kg person walking at 3 mph:

  • kcal/h = 3.5 × 70 × 1.05 = 257 kcal/h = 299 W

Why does HVAC use kcal/h in some countries?

Historical: European HVAC tradition used kcal/h before SI adoption Body heat: Natural unit for human heat output (matches food calories) Transition: Many European countries now use watts Mixed practice: Some European standards still reference kcal/h

Conversion for HVAC:

  • 1 person (seated): 100 kcal/h = 116 W
  • Conference room (20 people): 2,000 kcal/h = 2,320 W = 2.32 kW
  • Gym (50 people, active): 20,000 kcal/h = 23,200 W = 23.2 kW

Modern practice: Most HVAC calculations now in watts or BTU/h.

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+

Conversion Table: Kilocalorie per Hour to BTU per Hour

Kilocalorie per Hour (kcal/h)BTU per Hour (BTU/h)
0.51.983
13.966
1.55.949
27.931
519.828
1039.657
2599.142
50198.283
100396.567
250991.417
5001,982.833
1,0003,965.667

People Also Ask

How do I convert Kilocalorie per Hour to BTU per Hour?

To convert Kilocalorie per Hour to BTU per Hour, enter the value in Kilocalorie 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 Kilocalorie per Hour to BTU per Hour?

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Kilocalorie per Hour and BTU per Hour. 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 BTU per Hour back to Kilocalorie per Hour?

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

Learn more →

What are common uses for Kilocalorie per Hour and BTU per Hour?

Kilocalorie per Hour and BTU per Hour 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.

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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