Energy Converter
Instantly convert between various units of energy.
Why Use This Tool? ✅
Fast & Accurate
Get high-precision conversions in real-time based on standardized scientific factors.
Comprehensive Units
Easily convert between Joules, Calories, BTUs, kWh, and many other common energy units.
Perfect for Multiple Fields
An essential tool for students, engineers, physicists, and anyone working with energy data.
User-Friendly
A simple, clean interface that makes converting any unit of energy quick and easy.
From Joules to BTUs: A Guide to Energy Units ⚡
In physics, energy is the quantitative property that must be transferred to an object in order to perform work on, or to heat, the object. It is a conserved quantity; the law of conservation of energy states that energy can be converted in form, but not created or destroyed. Because energy is fundamental to so many scientific and practical fields, a variety of units have been developed to measure it.
The SI Unit: Joule (J)
The standard international (SI) unit for energy is the Joule (J). It is defined as the work done when a force of one newton displaces an object by one meter. While it is the scientific standard, other units are more common in specific contexts.
Commonly Used Units
- Calorie (cal) & Kilocalorie (kcal): The "food calorie" we see on nutrition labels is actually a kilocalorie (1,000 calories). A calorie is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.
- Kilowatt-hour (kWh): This is the unit you see on your electricity bill. It represents the energy consumed by a one-kilowatt (1,000 watt) device running for one hour.
- British Thermal Unit (BTU): An imperial unit of heat energy, a BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. It's commonly used for rating air conditioners and heating systems.
- Electronvolt (eV): A very small unit of energy used in particle physics, representing the energy gained by a single electron when it moves across an electric potential difference of one volt.
Why Conversion is Important
The need for energy conversion is constant. A nutritionist may need to convert calories to kilojoules for scientific reporting. An engineer designing a heating system must convert between BTUs and kilowatt-hours to understand both thermal output and electrical cost. A physicist working with electronvolts needs to relate their findings to the larger world of joules. This converter provides a vital and reliable bridge between these different domains.