How to convert watts to BTU per hour
- Take the value in watts.
- Use the formula BTU per hour = watts × 3.412141633.
- For example, 100 W is 341.21 BTU/h.
About watts and BTU per hour
Multiply watts by 3.41214 to get BTU per hour. 100 W is 341 BTU/h and 1,500 W is 5,118 BTU/h. For a quick estimate multiply by 3.4.
Almost all the electricity a device uses ends up as heat in the room, so the watts a heater, computer, server rack or lighting rig draws tell you its heat output. That is how people size cooling for a server closet, or compare an electric heater with a gas one rated in BTU.
Examples
- 100 W (a 100 W incandescent bulb) is 341.21 BTU/h
- 300 W (a desktop PC drawing 300 W) is 1,023.64 BTU/h
- 1,500 W (a plug-in space heater on high) is 5,118.21 BTU/h
- 2,000 W (a 2 kW electric heater) is 6,824.28 BTU/h
Watts to BTU per hour chart
| Watts (W) | BTU per hour (BTU/h) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3.41 |
| 5 | 17.06 |
| 10 | 34.12 |
| 25 | 85.3 |
| 50 | 170.61 |
| 60 | 204.73 |
| 75 | 255.91 |
| 100 | 341.21 |
| 150 | 511.82 |
| 200 | 682.43 |
| 250 | 853.04 |
| 300 | 1,023.64 |
| 400 | 1,364.86 |
| Watts (W) | BTU per hour (BTU/h) |
|---|---|
| 500 | 1,706.07 |
| 600 | 2,047.28 |
| 750 | 2,559.11 |
| 800 | 2,729.71 |
| 1,000 | 3,412.14 |
| 1,200 | 4,094.57 |
| 1,500 | 5,118.21 |
| 2,000 | 6,824.28 |
| 2,500 | 8,530.35 |
| 3,000 | 10,236.42 |
| 3,500 | 11,942.5 |
| 5,000 | 17,060.71 |