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. Supported Units & Conversion Factors 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 Example Calculations Example 1: Electrical Energy to Nutrition A household uses 1 kWh of electricity. Joules: 1 kWh = 3,600,000 J Kilocalories: 3,600,000 ÷ 4,184 ≈ 860 kcal So, 1 kWh ≈ 860 kcal — equivalent to the energy in ~200 grams of sugar Example 2: Nutritional Energy to Electricity A meal contains 30,000 kcal. Joules: 30,000 × 4,184 = 125,520,000 J kWh: 125,520,000 ÷ 3,600,000 ≈ 34.9 kWh That’s enough to power a 1,000W heater for ~35 hours Use Cases Power system energy analysis — comparing electricity consumption across different sources Building energy efficiency design — calculating HVAC loads and insulation performance Nutritional label interpretation — understanding food energy content in kcal vs. joules Engineering energy balance calculations — thermodynamics, heat transfer, and mechanical systems Academic learning and exams — physics, chemistry, and engineering courses Frequently Asked Questions (Based on Google "People Also Ask") How many joules are in 1 kWh? 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 3,600,000 joules (J) This is because 1 watt = 1 joule/second, and 1 hour = 3,600 seconds. What is the difference between calorie and kilocalorie? 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. How do I convert BTU to kWh? Divide BTU by 3,412: kWh = BTU ÷ 3,412 Example: 10,000 BTU ÷ 3,412 ≈ 2.93 kWh Why is energy measured in both kWh and BTU? 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. Can I use this calculator for food energy? 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. Is 1 kWh equal to 1,000 watts? 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). Reference Standards ISO 80000-13: Quantities and units — Physical chemistry and molecular physics ASHRAE Standard 90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings IEC 60050: International Electrotechnical Vocabulary Textbooks: "Thermodynamics" by Yunus Cengel, "Introduction to Heat Transfer" by Incropera