BTU to Calories Converter
How to convert BTU to calories
calories = BTU × 252.164401
To convert BTU to calories, multiply the number of BTU by 252.164401.
1 BTU = 252.164401 cal
Examples
- 1,000 BTU × 252.164401 = 252,164.401 cal
- About one therm: 100,000 BTU × 252.164401 = 25,216,440.1 cal
Good to know
This is the International Table BTU, 1055.05585262 J. Other definitions exist, such as the thermochemical BTU (about 1054.35 J); they differ from it by up to about 0.5%.
This is the thermochemical calorie, exactly 4.184 J. It is the small calorie: the "Calories" on food labels are kilocalories, 1000 times larger. The International Table calorie (4.1868 J) is slightly different.
BTU to calories conversion table
| BTU | Calories (cal) |
|---|---|
| 1 BTU | 252.164401 cal |
| 10 BTU | 2,521.64401 cal |
| 100 BTU | 25,216.4401 cal |
| 500 BTU | 126,082.2 cal |
| 1,000 BTU | 252,164.401 cal |
| 2,000 BTU | 504,328.801 cal |
| 5,000 BTU | 1,260,822 cal |
| 10,000 BTU | 2,521,644.01 cal |
| 12,000 BTU | 3,025,972.81 cal |
| 20,000 BTU | 5,043,288.01 cal |
| 50,000 BTU | 12,608,220 cal |
| 100,000 BTU | 25,216,440.1 cal |
| 500,000 BTU | 126,082,200 cal |
| 1,000,000 BTU | 252,164,401 cal |
Unit definitions
- BTU
- The British thermal unit is roughly the heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. The International Table BTU is exactly 1055.05585262 joules, and it is used for heating and cooling in the United States.
- Calorie (cal)
- The thermochemical calorie is defined as exactly 4.184 joules, roughly the energy needed to heat one gram of water by one degree Celsius.