Free Online Energy & Work Converter
Energy & Work Conversion
Input Value
Conversion Results
SI / Metric Units
- Joule (J) - SI unit of energy
- Kilojoule (kJ) = 1,000 J
- Megajoule (MJ) = 1,000,000 J
- Gigajoule (GJ) = 1,000,000,000 J
Thermal / Food Energy
- Calorie (cal) - Energy to heat 1g water by 1°C
- Kilocalorie (kcal) = 1,000 cal (food calories)
- BTU - British Thermal Unit
- Therm (thm) = 100,000 BTU
Electrical Energy
- Watt-hour (Wh) = 3,600 J
- Kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 3,600,000 J
- Megawatt-hour (MWh) = 3,600,000,000 J
Other Energy Units
- Foot-pound (ft·lb) - Mechanical energy
- Erg (erg) = 10⁻⁷ J (CGS unit)
- Electronvolt (eV) = 1.602×10⁻¹⁹ J
- Ton of TNT = 4.184×10⁹ J
Conversion Examples
Free Online Energy & Work Conversion Tool
Our comprehensive Energy and Work Converter is an essential tool for students, engineers, scientists, and anyone working with energy measurements. This powerful converter allows you to instantly convert between dozens of energy units including joules, calories, BTU, watt-hours, foot-pounds, electronvolts, and many more. Whether you're working on physics homework, engineering calculations, or scientific research, this tool provides accurate conversions with real-time results.
How to Use This Energy Converter (Step-by-Step):
- Enter Value: Input the numerical energy value you want to convert in the "Energy Value" field
- Select Source Unit: Choose the unit of your input value from the dropdown menu (e.g., joules, calories, BTU)
- View Results: Instantly see the converted values in all major energy units in the results panel
- Additional Actions: Use the buttons to copy results, swap units, or reset the converter for new calculations
Real-Life Application Examples:
For Home Energy Bills: Convert your electricity usage from kilowatt-hours (what's on your bill) to joules or BTU to understand your energy consumption in different units. A typical household might use 900 kWh per month, which equals 3.24 billion joules or 3.07 million BTU.
For Nutrition & Diet: Convert food energy from kilocalories (what you see on nutrition labels) to joules or watt-hours. A 200-calorie snack contains 836,800 joules - enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for nearly 4 hours!
For Engineering & Physics: Convert mechanical energy from foot-pounds to joules for scientific calculations, or convert electronvolts (used in particle physics) to more familiar units like joules.
Common Energy Unit Definitions:
- Joule (J): The SI unit of energy, defined as the work done by a force of one newton moving through one meter
- Calorie (cal): The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C
- British Thermal Unit (BTU): The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1°F
- Watt-hour (Wh): The amount of energy equivalent to one watt of power expended for one hour
- Foot-pound (ft·lb): The amount of work done by a force of one pound acting through one foot
- Electronvolt (eV): The amount of kinetic energy gained by a single electron accelerating through one volt of electric potential difference
Who Should Use This Energy Converter?
- Students & Educators: Perfect for physics, engineering, and chemistry classes dealing with energy conversions
- Engineers & Technicians: Essential for mechanical, electrical, and energy engineering calculations
- Scientists & Researchers: Useful across physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental sciences
- Nutritionists & Dietitians: Convert between food energy units (calories) and other energy measurements
- Homeowners & Energy Auditors: Understand energy consumption across different measurement systems
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between energy and work?
In physics, work is the transfer of energy, so both are measured using the same units. When work is done on an object, energy is transferred to that object.
How accurate are the conversions?
Our converter uses precise conversion factors with high precision calculations. For most scientific and engineering purposes, the accuracy is more than sufficient.
Can I convert very large or very small energy values?
Yes, the converter handles values from extremely small (electronvolts) to extremely large (gigajoules, tons of TNT) with equal precision.
Is this tool free to use?
Yes, this is a completely free online tool with no registration required and no usage limits.
Does the converter work on mobile devices?
Absolutely! The converter is fully responsive and works perfectly on smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.
Energy Conversion Factors Reference:
For quick reference, here are some key conversion factors:
- 1 joule = 0.239 calories = 0.0009478 BTU = 0.0002778 watt-hours
- 1 calorie = 4.184 joules = 0.003965 BTU = 0.001162 watt-hours
- 1 BTU = 1,055 joules = 252 calories = 0.293 watt-hours
- 1 kilowatt-hour = 3,600,000 joules = 860,420 calories = 3,412 BTU
- 1 foot-pound = 1.356 joules = 0.324 calories = 0.001285 BTU
- 1 electronvolt = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ joules