Convert British thermal unit to Joule

One BTU equals 1,055.06 J. This converter allows you to easily convert between British thermal unit and Joule in real time.

Formula

BTU × 1,055.06 = J

Example: 1 BTU = 1,055.06 J

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 Joule?

The joule is the SI unit of energy, named after English physicist James Prescott Joule. One joule equals the work done by a force of one newton moving an object one meter, or the energy used by one watt of power for one second. Food energy labels in many countries show kilojoules alongside calories. In physics, the joule unifies mechanical, thermal, and electrical energy into a single consistent unit.