Convert British thermal unit to Calorie (thermochemical)

One BTU equals 252.165392 cal. This converter allows you to easily convert between British thermal unit and Calorie (thermochemical) in real time.

Formula

BTU × 252.165392 = cal

Example: 1 BTU = 252.165392 cal

What is British thermal unit?

The British thermal unit is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. It is primarily used in the American HVAC industry, where air conditioner capacity is rated in BTU per hour (12,000 BTU/h equals one ton of refrigeration). Residential air conditioners typically range from 5,000 to 25,000 BTU/h. Natural gas is also traded in BTU, with one cubic foot containing about 1,000 BTU. One BTU equals approximately 1,055 joules.

What is Calorie (thermochemical)?

The thermochemical calorie is a unit of energy originally defined as the amount needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. It is exactly 4.184 joules. Note that the "Calorie" seen on food labels is actually a kilocalorie (1,000 calories). The calorie has deep roots in calorimetry and chemistry, and although the SI system favors joules, calories remain widely used in everyday discussions of food and diet.