Energy Converter
56 conversions available
Convert between joules, calories, kilowatt-hours, BTU and more.
Most popular energy conversions
The most searched energy conversions are calories to joules, kWh to joules, and BTU to joules. One calorie is 4.184 joules, one kilowatt-hour is 3.6 million joules, and one BTU is about 1,055 joules. Note that food 'calories' are actually kilocalories.
Understanding energy units
Energy takes many units by context: joules in physics, kilocalories on food labels, kilowatt-hours on electricity bills, and BTU in heating and cooling. One food calorie equals 1,000 physics calories (a kilocalorie), a frequent source of confusion.
Quick reference
1 calorie = 4.184 J · 1 kcal = 4,184 J · 1 kWh = 3,600,000 J · 1 BTU = 1,055 J. Use the converter for any exact value.
Quick reference: common energy conversions
| 1 kilowatt-hour | 3.6 MJ (860 kcal) |
| 1 kilocalorie | 4.184 kJ |
| 1 BTU | 1,055 J |
| 1 therm | 29.3 kWh |
| 1 joule | 0.239 calories |
| Daily 2,000 kcal diet | ≈ 2.3 kWh |
| Fridge (modern) | ≈ 1 kWh/day |
| EV consumption | 15–20 kWh / 100 km |
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a kilowatt-hour?
The energy of running a 1,000-watt appliance for one hour — 3.6 million joules. Kilowatts × hours × your tariff gives the cost of running anything.
Are food calories the same as physics calories?
Food 'calories' are kilocalories: 1 food Cal = 1,000 small calories = 4,184 joules. A 500-calorie meal is about 2.1 megajoules.
What is a BTU?
The British Thermal Unit (1,055 J) — the energy to heat one pound of water by 1°F. It survives in air-conditioner and heater ratings, where BTU/h describes heating or cooling power.