Watt per meter kelvin (W/(m·K))

SI unit of thermal conductivity: heat flow in watts through a one-meter-thick layer per square meter and per kelvin.

What is a watt per meter kelvin?

Symbol: W/(m·K)
Quantity: Thermal Conductivity
Unit system: SI
Definition: SI unit of thermal conductivity: heat flow in watts through a one-meter-thick layer per square meter and per kelvin.
Exact: Yes, the value is exact by definition
Source: SI Brochure, 9th edition (BIPM, 2019)

Common applications

The SI unit of thermal conductivity, used for insulation, building materials, metals and thermal pastes.

Watt per meter kelvin in other thermal conductivity units

1 W/(m·K) = 0.01 W/(cm·K)Watt per centimeter kelvin
1 W/(m·K) ≈ 0.5777893165 BTU/(h·ft·°F)Watt per meter kelvin to BTU per hour foot degree Fahrenheit converter
1 W/(m·K) ≈ 6.933471799 BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F)Watt per meter kelvin to BTU inch per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit converter
1 W/(m·K) ≈ 0.8598452279 kcal/(h·m·°C)Kilocalorie (IT) per hour meter degree Celsius
1 W/(m·K) ≈ 0.002390057361 cal/(s·cm·°C)Calorie (thermochemical) per second centimeter degree Celsius

Watt per meter kelvin quick reference

Watt per meter kelvin in other units
Watt per meter kelvin	BTU per hour foot degree Fahrenheit	BTU inch per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit	Watt per centimeter kelvin
1 W/(m·K)	≈ 0.5777893165 BTU/(h·ft·°F)	≈ 6.933471799 BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F)	= 0.01 W/(cm·K)
10 W/(m·K)	≈ 5.777893165 BTU/(h·ft·°F)	≈ 69.33471799 BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F)	= 0.1 W/(cm·K)
100 W/(m·K)	≈ 57.77893165 BTU/(h·ft·°F)	≈ 693.3471799 BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F)	= 1 W/(cm·K)
1000 W/(m·K)	≈ 577.7893165 BTU/(h·ft·°F)	≈ 6933.471799 BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F)	= 10 W/(cm·K)

Where the watt per meter kelvin fits

The next smaller thermal conductivity unit is the BTU inch per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit (BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F)). 1 W/(m·K) ≈ 6.933471799 BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F), and 1 BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F) ≈ 0.1442278889 W/(m·K).

The next larger thermal conductivity unit is the kilocalorie (IT) per hour meter degree Celsius (kcal/(h·m·°C)). 1 W/(m·K) ≈ 0.8598452279 kcal/(h·m·°C), and 1 kcal/(h·m·°C) = 1.163 W/(m·K).

Frequently asked questions

How many BTUs per hour foot degree Fahrenheit are in one watt per meter kelvin?: One watt per meter kelvin ≈ 0.5777893165 BTU/(h·ft·°F) (BTUs per hour foot degree Fahrenheit).
How many BTU inches per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit are in one watt per meter kelvin?: One watt per meter kelvin ≈ 6.933471799 BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F) (BTU inches per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit).
How many watts per centimeter kelvin are in one watt per meter kelvin?: One watt per meter kelvin = 0.01 W/(cm·K) (watts per centimeter kelvin).