Kilowatt per square meter (kW/m²)
Exactly 1000 W/m².
What is a kilowatt per square meter?
- Symbol
- kW/m²
- Quantity
- Heat Flux Density
- Unit system
- SI
- Definition
- Exactly 1000 W/m².
- Exact
- Yes, the value is exact by definition
- Source
- SI Brochure, 9th edition (BIPM, 2019)
Common applications
Used for sunlight on solar panels (rated under 1 kW/m²) and for radiant heat exposure in fire safety.
Kilowatt per square meter in other heat flux density units
- 1 kW/m² = 1000 W/m²Watt per square meter
- 1 kW/m² = 0.1 W/cm²Watt per square centimeter
- 1 kW/m² ≈ 316.9983306 BTU/(h·ft²)BTU per hour square foot
- 1 kW/m² ≈ 859.8452279 kcal/(h·m²)Kilocalorie (IT) per hour square meter
- 1 kW/m² ≈ 0.02390057361 cal/(s·cm²)Calorie (thermochemical) per second square centimeter
Kilowatt per square meter quick reference
| Kilowatt per square meter | Watt per square meter | BTU per hour square foot | Watt per square centimeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW/m² | = 1000 W/m² | ≈ 316.9983306 BTU/(h·ft²) | = 0.1 W/cm² |
| 10 kW/m² | = 10000 W/m² | ≈ 3169.983306 BTU/(h·ft²) | = 1 W/cm² |
| 100 kW/m² | = 100000 W/m² | ≈ 31699.83306 BTU/(h·ft²) | = 10 W/cm² |
| 1000 kW/m² | = 1000000 W/m² | ≈ 316998.3306 BTU/(h·ft²) | = 100 W/cm² |
Where the kilowatt per square meter fits
The next smaller heat flux density unit is the BTU per hour square foot (BTU/(h·ft²)). 1 kW/m² ≈ 316.9983306 BTU/(h·ft²), and 1 BTU/(h·ft²) ≈ 0.003154590745 kW/m².
The next larger heat flux density unit is the watt per square centimeter (W/cm²). 1 kW/m² = 0.1 W/cm², and 1 W/cm² = 10 kW/m².
Frequently asked questions
- How many watts per square meter are in one kilowatt per square meter?
- One kilowatt per square meter = 1000 W/m² (watts per square meter).
- How many BTUs per hour square foot are in one kilowatt per square meter?
- One kilowatt per square meter ≈ 316.9983306 BTU/(h·ft²) (BTUs per hour square foot).
- How many watts per square centimeter are in one kilowatt per square meter?
- One kilowatt per square meter = 0.1 W/cm² (watts per square centimeter).