Thermal Resistance Converter
Quick answer: Choose a starting unit and a target unit, then enter a value. Common conversions: 1 K/W = 1 °C/W; 1 K/W = 0.5275279 °F·h/Btu; 1 K/W = 1,000 K/kW. This converter covers 6 thermal resistance units.
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Use the Thermal Resistance Converter
Thermal Resistance formula and what each symbol means
target = value × (factor of starting unit ÷ factor of target unit), where each factor is the unit value in K/W.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| value | The number you want to convert |
| factor | The unit’s size expressed in the base unit (K/W) |
Thermal Resistance examples
K/W to °C/W
10 K/W = 10 °C/W.
K/W to °F·h/Btu
10 K/W = 5.275279 °F·h/Btu.
K/W to K/kW
10 K/W = 10,000 K/kW.
How to calculate Thermal Resistance step by step
- Choose the starting unit and the target unit.
- Enter your value.
- Read the converted value, plus the conversion factor in both directions.
Popular thermal resistance conversions
- Kelvin per watt to Degree Celsius per watt converter
- Kelvin per watt to °F·h per Btu converter
- Kelvin per watt to Kelvin per kilowatt converter
- Degree Celsius per watt to Kelvin per watt converter
- Degree Celsius per watt to °F·h per Btu converter
- Degree Celsius per watt to Kelvin per kilowatt converter
- °F·h per Btu to Kelvin per watt converter
- °F·h per Btu to Degree Celsius per watt converter
- °F·h per Btu to Kelvin per kilowatt converter
- Kelvin per kilowatt to Kelvin per watt converter
- Kelvin per kilowatt to Degree Celsius per watt converter
- Kelvin per kilowatt to °F·h per Btu converter
How to read your Thermal Resistance result
Thermal resistance is the temperature difference needed to push one watt of heat through an object. The SI unit is kelvin per watt, which equals °C per watt because the degree size is the same. One °F·h/Btu is about 1.8956 K/W.
| UNIT | SYMBOL | EQUALS | VALUE OF 1 K/W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin per watt | K/W | 1 K/W = 1 K/W | 1 K/W |
| Degree Celsius per watt | °C/W | 1 °C/W = 1 K/W | 1 °C/W |
| Kelvin per kilowatt | K/kW | 1 K/kW = 0.001 K/W | 1,000 K/kW |
| Degree Celsius per kilowatt | °C/kW | 1 °C/kW = 0.001 K/W | 1,000 °C/kW |
| Degree Fahrenheit hour per Btu | °F·h/Btu | 1 °F·h/Btu = 1.8956342 K/W | 0.5275279 °F·h/Btu |
| Degree Fahrenheit second per Btu | °F·s/Btu | 1 °F·s/Btu = 0.00052656507 K/W | 1,899.101 °F·s/Btu |
Common mistakes when calculating Thermal Resistance
- Confusing thermal resistance (K/W) with the area-based R-value used for insulation.
- Mixing K/W with K/kW: the second is 1,000 times smaller.
- Forgetting that °F·h/Btu includes a time factor (hours) in the unit.
Thermal Resistance FAQ
Is K/W the same as °C/W?
Yes. A temperature difference of 1 K equals 1 °C, so the two units are identical.
How many K/W is 1 °F·h/Btu?
About 1.8956 K/W.
Where is thermal resistance used?
Heat sinks, electronics cooling, insulation layers and heat exchangers are specified with it.
What is the base unit for thermal resistance?
This converter uses kelvin per watt (K/W) as the common base unit: every value is first converted to it and then to the target unit.
How do I convert between two thermal resistance units?
Choose the starting and target units, enter the value and read the result. By hand: convert to the base unit with the table, then divide by the target unit factor.
How many Degree Celsius per watt are in 1 kelvin per watt?
1 K/W = 1 °C/W.
How many °F·h per Btu are in 1 kelvin per watt?
1 K/W = 0.5275279 °F·h/Btu.
How many kelvin per kilowatt are in 1 kelvin per watt?
1 K/W = 1,000 K/kW.
Which thermal resistance units does this converter support?
It covers 6 units: kelvin per watt (K/W), Degree Celsius per watt (°C/W), kelvin per kilowatt (K/kW), Degree Celsius per kilowatt (°C/kW), Degree Fahrenheit hour per Btu (°F·h/Btu), Degree Fahrenheit second per Btu (°F·s/Btu).
How accurate is the thermal resistance converter?
Results are calculated at full double precision and shown to about 8 significant figures. Round the answer to the precision of your original measurement; a result cannot be more accurate than the number you started with.
More in Thermal Resistance converters
- °F·h per Btu to Degree Celsius per watt Converter
- °F·h per Btu to Kelvin per kilowatt Converter
- °F·h per Btu to Kelvin per watt Converter
- Degree Celsius per watt to °F·h per Btu Converter
- Kelvin per kilowatt to Kelvin per watt Converter
- Degree Celsius per watt to Kelvin per kilowatt Converter
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Method, review and disclaimer
Edited by: Hemant Kumar and Anjita Rai, founders of ToolsVault (SEO and content professional, not a licensed adviser). Method: this tool runs in your browser using the formula shown on this page; the numbers you enter are not sent to our servers. Sources: NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8: conversion factors, BIPM: the International System of Units (SI)