Kelvin per watt (K/W)
SI unit of thermal resistance: the temperature difference in kelvins needed to drive one watt of heat flow. Equal to °C/W.
What is a kelvin per watt?
- Symbol
- K/W
- Quantity
- Thermal Resistance
- Unit system
- SI
- Definition
- SI unit of thermal resistance: the temperature difference in kelvins needed to drive one watt of heat flow. Equal to °C/W.
- Exact
- Yes, the value is exact by definition
- Source
- SI Brochure, 9th edition (BIPM, 2019)
Common applications
Used to rate heat sinks, CPU coolers, transistors and LED packages, usually written °C/W.
Kelvin per watt in other thermal resistance units
- 1 K/W = 0.52752792631 °F·h/BTUKelvin per watt to Degree Fahrenheit hour per BTU converter
- 1 K/W = 0.001 K/mWKelvin per milliwatt
Kelvin per watt quick reference
| Kelvin per watt | Degree Fahrenheit hour per BTU | Kelvin per milliwatt |
|---|---|---|
| 1 K/W | = 0.52752792631 °F·h/BTU | = 0.001 K/mW |
| 10 K/W | = 5.2752792631 °F·h/BTU | = 0.01 K/mW |
| 100 K/W | = 52.752792631 °F·h/BTU | = 0.1 K/mW |
| 1000 K/W | = 527.52792631 °F·h/BTU | = 1 K/mW |
Where the kelvin per watt fits
The next larger thermal resistance unit is the degree Fahrenheit hour per BTU (°F·h/BTU). 1 K/W = 0.52752792631 °F·h/BTU, and 1 °F·h/BTU ≈ 1.895634241 K/W.
Frequently asked questions
- How many degree Fahrenheit hours per BTU are in one kelvin per watt?
- One kelvin per watt = 0.52752792631 °F·h/BTU (degree Fahrenheit hours per BTU).
- How many kelvins per milliwatt are in one kelvin per watt?
- One kelvin per watt = 0.001 K/mW (kelvins per milliwatt).