Convert between Joule (J), kilowatt-hour (kWh), British Thermal Unit (BTU), and Calorie (cal) instantly. Ideal for electrical engineering, building energy analysis, nutrition, and academic studies. Includes conversion formulas, examples, and real-world applications.
| Unit | Full Name | Relation to Joule (J) |
|---|---|---|
| J | Joule | 1 J = 1 J |
| kJ | Kilojoule | 1 kJ = 1,000 J |
| MJ | Megajoule | 1 MJ = 1,000,000 J |
| Wh | Watt-hour | 1 Wh = 3,600 J |
| kWh | Kilowatt-hour | 1 kWh = 3,600,000 J |
| MWh | Megawatt-hour | 1 MWh = 3.6 × 10⁹ J |
| BTU | British Thermal Unit | 1 BTU ≈ 1,055.06 J |
| cal | Calorie | 1 cal ≈ 4.184 J |
| kcal | Kilocalorie | 1 kcal = 4,184 J |
| Mcal | Megacalorie | 1 Mcal = 4,184,000 J |
A household uses 1 kWh of electricity.
A meal contains 30,000 kcal.
1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 3,600,000 joules (J)
This is because 1 watt = 1 joule/second, and 1 hour = 3,600 seconds.
1 calorie (cal) = 4.184 joules — the energy to heat 1 gram of water by 1°C.
1 kilocalorie (kcal) = 1,000 calories = 4,184 joules.
On food labels, “Calorie” with a capital C means kilocalorie.
Divide BTU by 3,412:
kWh = BTU ÷ 3,412
Example: 10,000 BTU ÷ 3,412 ≈ 2.93 kWh
kWh is used for electrical energy (e.g., electricity bills).
BTU is used for thermal energy (e.g., heating, cooling, fuel).
They are interchangeable via conversion factors, but context determines which is more appropriate.
Yes! Food energy is typically labeled in kilocalories (kcal). You can convert it to joules or kWh using this tool.
For example: 1,000 kcal = 4,184,000 J ≈ 1.16 kWh.
No. 1 kWh is 1,000 watts × 1 hour — a measure of energy, not power.
Power is measured in watts (W), while energy is measured in watt-hours (Wh) or kilowatt-hours (kWh).