How to Convert BTU to Kilocalories

When you heat water, you add energy to it, and the amount of energy you add determines the increase in temperature. A kilocalorie is amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of water by one degree Celsius and a BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 lb. of water by one degree Fahrenheit. A kilocalorie is also called a kcal, or a Calorie with a capital "C." Converting from BTUs to kilocalories is a conversion from the American customary system to the metric system.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Enter the value in BTUs into a calculator or write it on a piece of paper.

   • 2

     Multiply the BTU value by 252, the number of calories in 1 BTU. The result is the value in calories. For example, 24 BTUs equals 6,048 calories, because 24 x 252 = 6,048.

   • 3

     Divide the result from Step 2 by 1,000 to convert calories to kilocalories. For example, 6,048 calories equals 6.048 kilocalories, because 6,048 / 1,000 = 6.048.