Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Exactly 3 600 000 joules (3.6 megajoules).
What is a kilowatt-hour?
- Symbol
- kWh
- Quantity
- Energy
- Unit system
- SI-accepted
- Definition
- Exactly 3 600 000 joules (3.6 megajoules).
- Exact
- Yes, the value is exact by definition
- Source
- SI Brochure, 9th edition (BIPM, 2019)
Common applications
Used on electricity bills and for electric vehicle battery capacity.
Kilowatt-hour in other energy units
- 1 kWh = 3600000 JJoule
- 1 kWh = 3600 kJKilojoule
- 1 kWh = 3.6 MJKilowatt-hour to Megajoule converter
- 1 kWh = 1000 WhWatt-hour
- 1 kWh ≈ 860420.6501 calCalorie (thermochemical)
- 1 kWh ≈ 860.4206501 kcalKilocalorie (thermochemical)
- 1 kWh ≈ 3412.141633 BTUKilowatt-hour to British thermal unit (IT) converter
- 1 kWh ≈ 2655223.737 ft·lbfFoot-pound-force
- 1 kWh ≈ 2.246943267e+25 eVElectronvolt
- 1 kWh = 36000000000000 ergErg
Kilowatt-hour quick reference
| Kilowatt-hour | Megajoule | British thermal unit (IT) | Kilojoule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kWh | = 3.6 MJ | ≈ 3412.141633 BTU | = 3600 kJ |
| 10 kWh | = 36 MJ | ≈ 34121.41633 BTU | = 36000 kJ |
| 100 kWh | = 360 MJ | ≈ 341214.1633 BTU | = 360000 kJ |
| 1000 kWh | = 3600 MJ | ≈ 3412141.633 BTU | = 3600000 kJ |
Where the kilowatt-hour fits
The next smaller energy unit is the megajoule (MJ). 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ, and 1 MJ ≈ 0.2777777778 kWh.
Frequently asked questions
- How many megajoules are in one kilowatt-hour?
- One kilowatt-hour = 3.6 MJ (megajoules).
- How many British thermal units are in one kilowatt-hour?
- One kilowatt-hour ≈ 3412.141633 BTU (British thermal units).
- How many kilojoules are in one kilowatt-hour?
- One kilowatt-hour = 3600 kJ (kilojoules).