UnitsConverter

Kilowatt to BTU per Second Converter

Convert kilowatts to BTU/s with our free online power converter.

Quick Answer

1 Kilowatt = 0.947817 BTU/s

Formula: Kilowatt × conversion factor = BTU per Second

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

Kilowatt to BTU per Second Calculator

How to Use the Kilowatt to BTU per Second Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Kilowatt).
  2. The converted value in BTU per Second 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.
Share:

How to Convert Kilowatt to BTU per Second: Step-by-Step Guide

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

Formula:

BTU/s = kW × 0.947817

Example Calculation:

1 kW = 0.947817 BTU/s

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?

View all Power conversions →
📊 Power Table

Print-friendly conversion reference

📋 Unit Symbols

Copy kW & BTU/s symbols

What is a Kilowatt and a BTU per Second?

1 kW = 1,000 W = 1.341 hp = 3,412 BTU/h = 1,000 J/s

1 BTU/s = 1,055.06 W = 1.055 kW = 3,600 BTU/h = 1.41 hp = 0.001055 MW

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

Common Uses and Applications: kilowatts vs BTU/s

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

Common Uses for kilowatts

Appliances: Heaters (1-2 kW), microwaves (0.8-1.2 kW), electric ovens (2-5 kW). EVs: Charging power (3.7-22 kW home, 50-350 kW fast charging). Solar: Residential systems (5-10 kW capacity). HVAC: Air conditioner power (2-7 kW for homes).

When to Use BTU/s

Rare Unit: Almost never used in practice. Theoretical: Engineering textbooks, conversion tables. Alternatives Preferred: MW for large systems, BTU/h for HVAC. Historical: Old power plant references (now use MW).

Additional Unit Information

About Kilowatt (kW)

How do I convert kW to horsepower?

Formula: hp = kW × 1.341

Examples:

  • 10 kW = 13.4 hp
  • 75 kW = 100.6 hp (100 hp)
  • 100 kW = 134.1 hp
  • 250 kW = 335.3 hp

kW to HP converter →

What is the difference between kW and kWh?

kW (kilowatt) = Power (rate of energy use right now) kWh (kilowatt-hour) = Energy (total amount used over time)

Analogy:

  • kW = speedometer (speed right now)
  • kWh = odometer (total distance traveled)

Example: 2 kW heater × 3 hours = 6 kWh energy consumed

How much does 1 kW cost per hour?

Cost = kW × hours × electricity rate

Examples (at $0.15/kWh average US rate):

  • 1 kW for 1 hour = 1 kWh = $0.15
  • 2 kW heater for 8 hours = 16 kWh = $2.40
  • 100W light (0.1 kW) for 10 hours = 1 kWh = $0.15

Rates vary: $0.09-0.40/kWh depending on location and time of day.

How many kW is a typical home solar system?

Residential solar systems:

  • Small (2-4 people): 3-5 kW (10-15 panels)
  • Average home: 5-8 kW (15-24 panels)
  • Large home: 8-12 kW (24-36 panels)
  • Very large: 12-15+ kW (36-45+ panels)

Production: ~4-5 kWh per kW installed per day (varies by location, season).

Example: 6 kW system produces ~24-30 kWh/day, ~730-900 kWh/month.

About BTU per Second (BTU/s)

How do I convert BTU/s to kW or MW?

Formula:

  • kW = BTU/s × 1.055
  • MW = BTU/s × 0.001055

Examples:

  • 100 BTU/s = 105.5 kW = 0.106 MW
  • 1,000 BTU/s = 1,055 kW = 1.055 MW
  • 10,000 BTU/s = 10,550 kW = 10.55 MW

BTU/s to kW converter → BTU/s to MW converter →

How do I convert BTU/s to BTU/h?

Formula: BTU/h = BTU/s × 3,600

Examples:

  • 1 BTU/s = 3,600 BTU/h
  • 100 BTU/s = 360,000 BTU/h
  • 1,000 BTU/s = 3,600,000 BTU/h (3.6 million BTU/h)

BTU/s to BTU/h converter →

Why not use BTU/s for power plants?

Megawatts clearer: 500 MW vs 473,900 BTU/s International standard: MW used globally Simpler calculations: Metric system easier Industry convention: All power plants rated in MW or GW

Example: Nuclear reactor

  • As MW: 1,000 MW (clear, concise)
  • As BTU/s: 947,800 BTU/s (unwieldy)
  • As BTU/h: 3.41 billion BTU/h (also unwieldy)

MW is the practical choice for large power systems.

Conversion Table: Kilowatt to BTU per Second

Kilowatt (kW)BTU per Second (BTU/s)
0.50.474
10.948
1.51.422
21.896
54.739
109.478
2523.695
5047.391
10094.782
250236.954
500473.909
1,000947.817

People Also Ask

How do I convert Kilowatt to BTU per Second?

To convert Kilowatt to BTU per Second, enter the value in Kilowatt 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 Kilowatt to BTU per Second?

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

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

Learn more →

What are common uses for Kilowatt and BTU per Second?

Kilowatt and BTU per Second 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

Essential formulas for power and other conversions.

⚖️ Metric vs Imperial

Understand the differences between measurement systems.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Learn about frequent errors and how to avoid them.

View All Guides →

All Power Conversions

Watt to MilliwattWatt to KilowattWatt to MegawattWatt to GigawattWatt to HorsepowerWatt to Metric HorsepowerWatt to Electric HorsepowerWatt to BTU per HourWatt to BTU per MinuteWatt to BTU per SecondWatt to Foot-pound per SecondWatt to Foot-pound per MinuteWatt to Calorie per SecondWatt to Kilocalorie per HourWatt to Ton of RefrigerationWatt to Erg per SecondWatt to Joule per SecondMilliwatt to WattMilliwatt to KilowattMilliwatt to MegawattMilliwatt to GigawattMilliwatt to HorsepowerMilliwatt to Metric HorsepowerMilliwatt to Electric HorsepowerMilliwatt to BTU per HourMilliwatt to BTU per MinuteMilliwatt to BTU per SecondMilliwatt to Foot-pound per SecondMilliwatt to Foot-pound per MinuteMilliwatt to Calorie per SecondMilliwatt to Kilocalorie per HourMilliwatt to Ton of RefrigerationMilliwatt to Erg per SecondMilliwatt to Joule per SecondKilowatt to WattKilowatt to MilliwattKilowatt to MegawattKilowatt to GigawattKilowatt to HorsepowerKilowatt to Metric HorsepowerKilowatt to Electric HorsepowerKilowatt to BTU per HourKilowatt to BTU per MinuteKilowatt to Foot-pound per SecondKilowatt to Foot-pound per MinuteKilowatt to Calorie per SecondKilowatt to Kilocalorie per HourKilowatt to Ton of RefrigerationKilowatt to Erg per SecondKilowatt to Joule per SecondMegawatt to WattMegawatt to MilliwattMegawatt to KilowattMegawatt to GigawattMegawatt to HorsepowerMegawatt to Metric HorsepowerMegawatt to Electric HorsepowerMegawatt to BTU per HourMegawatt to BTU per MinuteMegawatt to BTU per SecondMegawatt to Foot-pound per SecondMegawatt to Foot-pound per MinuteMegawatt to Calorie per SecondMegawatt to Kilocalorie per HourMegawatt to Ton of RefrigerationMegawatt to Erg per SecondMegawatt to Joule per SecondGigawatt to WattGigawatt to MilliwattGigawatt to KilowattGigawatt to MegawattGigawatt to HorsepowerGigawatt to Metric HorsepowerGigawatt to Electric HorsepowerGigawatt to BTU per HourGigawatt to BTU per MinuteGigawatt to BTU per SecondGigawatt to Foot-pound per SecondGigawatt to Foot-pound per MinuteGigawatt to Calorie per SecondGigawatt to Kilocalorie per HourGigawatt to Ton of RefrigerationGigawatt to Erg per SecondGigawatt to Joule per SecondHorsepower to WattHorsepower to MilliwattHorsepower to KilowattHorsepower to MegawattHorsepower to GigawattHorsepower to Metric HorsepowerHorsepower to Electric HorsepowerHorsepower to BTU per HourHorsepower to BTU per MinuteHorsepower to BTU per SecondHorsepower to Foot-pound per SecondHorsepower to Foot-pound per MinuteHorsepower to Calorie per SecondHorsepower to Kilocalorie per HourHorsepower to Ton of RefrigerationHorsepower to Erg per SecondHorsepower to Joule per SecondMetric Horsepower to WattMetric Horsepower to MilliwattMetric Horsepower to KilowattMetric Horsepower to MegawattMetric Horsepower to GigawattMetric Horsepower to HorsepowerMetric Horsepower to Electric HorsepowerMetric Horsepower to BTU per HourMetric Horsepower to BTU per MinuteMetric Horsepower to BTU per SecondMetric Horsepower to Foot-pound per SecondMetric Horsepower to Foot-pound per MinuteMetric Horsepower to Calorie per SecondMetric Horsepower to Kilocalorie per HourMetric Horsepower to Ton of RefrigerationMetric Horsepower to Erg per SecondMetric Horsepower to Joule per SecondElectric Horsepower to WattElectric Horsepower to Milliwatt

Other Power Units and Conversions

Explore other power units and their conversion options:

View all power units →

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