Energy Converter

Convert between joules, calories, kilocalories, watt-hours, kilowatt-hours, BTU, and more.

860.42065kcal

1 Kilowatt-hour equals…

UnitValue
Joule (J)3600000
Kilojoule (kJ)3600
Megajoule (MJ)3.6
Calorie (small) (cal)860420.65
Kilocalorie (food) (kcal)860.42065
Watt-hour (Wh)1000
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)1
BTU (BTU)3412.1282
Electronvolt (eV)2.2472e+25

Click any row to set it as the target unit.

About the Energy Converter

Energy is measured in many units depending on the field: kilocalories (kcal) in nutrition, kilowatt-hours (kWh) in electricity billing, joules in physics, BTU in HVAC, and tonnes of oil equivalent in energy policy. For most Indians, kWh and kcal are the most practical units - the first determines your electricity bill, the second your daily calorie intake for fitness goals.

Energy Conversion Reference

1 kWh = 3,600,000 J = 3,600 kJ = 860.4 kcal · 1 kcal = 4,186 J = 4.186 kJ

1 BTU = 1,055 J · 1 calorie (small c, physics) = 4.186 J · 1 kcal (food calorie, capital C) = 4,186 J = 1 Cal · 1 kWh electricity at ₹7 = 860 kcal of food energy

Worked Example

1 kWh electricity bill unit - how many food calories?

Electricity:1 kWh
Convert to:kcal (food calories)

1 kWh = 860 kcal · At ₹7/kWh, you pay ₹7 for energy equivalent of 860 kcal of food

Tips & Insights

  • 1

    Food labels use 'kcal' and 'Calories' (capital C) interchangeably - a 300 Calorie snack = 300 kcal = 1,255 kJ.

  • 2

    Average Indian household uses 200-400 kWh per month. A 1.5-ton AC running 8 hours/day uses ~5 kWh/day = 150 kWh/month.

  • 3

    HVAC systems are rated in BTU/hour. 1 ton of AC = 12,000 BTU/hour = 3.52 kW cooling capacity.

Why this matters for you

Energy literacy reduces electricity bills and improves nutrition tracking. Knowing that 1 kWh (one unit of electricity) costs ₹7 and that your 1.5 ton AC consumes 1.5 kWh per hour makes energy-saving decisions concrete. Similarly, understanding that 300 kcal = one moderate meal informs smarter food choices more viscerally than abstract numbers.

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