Use this BTU to tons converter to quickly perform conversion from BTU to tons of refrigeration. Different heating and cooling devices have power rated in either BTU (British thermal units) or tons of refrigeration. The BTU-to-ton conversion is very easy once you know how many BTUs are in a ton. Read on to find out:
- What is a BTU?
- How to convert BTU to tons of refrigeration.
- How to calculate tons of refrigeration from BTUs.
- How to swap watts to BTU.
What does BTU stand for?
The BTU per hour (or BTU/h) means British thermal units per hour and represents a unit of heat power in the US customary unit system. One BTU corresponds to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. One BTU/h is equal to 1 BTU being output over the span of one hour.
Although we usually express power in watts in the SI (metric) system, BTU/h is still widely used for heating and cooling systems, mainly for air conditioning. The two systems supported by this converter are:
- American (US customary) — BTU per hour (BTU/h) and tons of refrigeration (TR).
- Metric (SI) — watts (W), kilowatts (kW) and kilocalories per hour (kcal/h).
What is a ton of refrigeration?
A ton of refrigeration, or refrigeration ton (symbol: TR or TOR), is another unit of power. One ton of refrigeration is equal to the heat transfer that results from melting one ton (2000 lb) of pure ice at 0 °C (32 °F) over the course of one day.
In the USA, the thermal capacity of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment is often specified in tons of refrigeration. However, manufacturers also frequently provide the capacity in BTU/h, especially for smaller devices.
Wait, why ice? A ton of refrigeration was introduced around the 1880s when large blocks of ice were the way to cool homes and businesses. As the ice melted, it absorbed heat from the room, similar to the way modern air conditioners work. The ice itself did not produce cool air — it removed heat from the room.
How to do BTU to ton conversion?
1 BTU/h is equal to 8.33333 × 10−5 refrigeration tons. Therefore, if you want to convert BTU to tons, simply multiply the number of BTU/h by 8.33333 × 10−5 and you will obtain the corresponding number of refrigeration tons:
Tons = BTU/h × 8.33333 × 10−5
For example, if you have 50 BTU/h:
Tons = 50 × 8.33333 × 10−5 = 0.00417 TR
How many BTU in a ton?
The relationship works the other way too. There are exactly 12,000 BTU/h in 1 ton of refrigeration. To convert tons back to BTU/h, multiply the number of tons by 12,000:
BTU/h = Tons × 12,000
So a typical 1.5-ton residential air conditioner is rated at 1.5 × 12,000 = 18,000 BTU/h.
How to convert watts to BTU?
Power can also be expressed in watts (the SI unit). The conversions between watts and the American units are:
- 1 W = 3.412142 BTU/h
- 1 BTU/h = 0.293071 W
- 1 ton of refrigeration = 3516.85 W ≈ 3.51685 kW
- 1 kcal/h = 1.163 W = 3.96832 BTU/h
To convert watts to BTU/h, multiply by 3.412142. To go the other way, multiply BTU/h by 0.293071 to get watts.
Quick conversion table
| BTU/h | Tons (TR) | Watts (W) | Kilowatts (kW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6,000 | 0.5 | 1,758 | 1.758 |
| 12,000 | 1.0 | 3,517 | 3.517 |
| 18,000 | 1.5 | 5,275 | 5.275 |
| 24,000 | 2.0 | 7,034 | 7.034 |
| 36,000 | 3.0 | 10,551 | 10.551 |
| 60,000 | 5.0 | 17,584 | 17.584 |
How to use the BTU to tons converter?
Using the converter is straightforward:
- Enter the amount you want to convert.
- Choose the unit you are converting from (e.g. BTU/h).
- Choose the unit you are converting to (e.g. tons of refrigeration). Use the Swap link to reverse the direction.
- Click Convert. You will see the main result plus a full table expressing your value in BTU/h, tons, watts, kilowatts and kcal/h.
FAQs
- How many BTU is 1 ton?
- One ton of refrigeration equals exactly 12,000 BTU/h.
- How do I convert BTU/h to tons?
- Divide the BTU/h value by 12,000, or equivalently multiply by 8.33333 × 10−5. For example, 24,000 BTU/h ÷ 12,000 = 2 tons.
- How many watts are in a ton of refrigeration?
- One ton of refrigeration is about 3516.85 watts, or roughly 3.52 kW.
- What size air conditioner do I need in tons?
- As a rough rule of thumb, you need about 20 BTU/h per square foot of room. Divide the total BTU/h by 12,000 to get the size in tons. For precise sizing, use a dedicated air conditioner room size calculator.
- Is BTU the same as BTU/h?
- Not exactly. A BTU is a unit of energy, while BTU/h (BTU per hour) is a unit of power — energy delivered per unit of time. Cooling and heating capacities are rated in BTU/h, although the "/h" is often dropped in everyday use.