Energy Conversion: 1 kWh = 3,600,000 joules | Essential for electricity and energy calculations

Joules to kWh Converter

Accurate conversion between joules (J) and kilowatt-hours (kWh) for energy calculations, electricity usage, and power measurement. Essential for understanding energy consumption and electrical power.

1 kWh = 3,600,000 joules | Default: 2 decimal places

Conversion Factor

1 kWh = 3,600,000 joules (J) | 1 joule = 2.77778 × 10⁻⁷ kWh

J
kWh

Precision: 2 Decimal Places | Formula: kWh = J ÷ 3600000

Common Energy Measurements

Joules and Kilowatt-hours

Understanding these essential energy units for electricity, power consumption, and energy calculations.

The Conversion Formula

Joule to kWh Conversion

1 kWh = 3,600,000 joules (J)
1 joule = 2.77778 × 10⁻⁷ kWh
kWh = Joules ÷ 3,600,000
Joules = kWh × 3,600,000

Example Calculation 1:

Convert 3,600,000 joules to kWh:

kWh = J ÷ 3,600,000

kWh = 3,600,000 ÷ 3,600,000

kWh = 1 (with 0 decimal places)

Example Calculation 2:

Convert 2.5 kWh to joules:

J = kWh × 3,600,000

J = 2.5 × 3,600,000

J = 9,000,000 (with 0 decimal place)

Note: These conversions are standard for electrical energy measurements

When to Use This Conversion:

  • Calculating electricity bills and energy consumption
  • Understanding power usage of electrical appliances
  • Renewable energy production calculations (solar, wind)
  • Physics and engineering energy calculations
  • Comparing energy efficiency of devices
  • Converting between SI units and practical energy units

About the Units

Joule (J)

The SI unit of energy, work, or heat. One joule is the energy transferred when a force of one newton acts through a distance of one meter.

Equivalents:

  • 1 J = 1 N·m (newton-meter)
  • 1 J = 1 W·s (watt-second)
  • 1 J = 2.77778 × 10⁻⁷ kWh
  • 1 kJ = 1,000 J
  • 1 MJ = 1,000,000 J
  • 1 GJ = 1,000,000,000 J

Note: Joule is the standard SI unit for energy measurement

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

A unit of energy equal to one kilowatt (1000 watts) of power expended for one hour of time. It's the standard unit for measuring electricity usage.

Equivalents:

  • 1 kWh = 1,000 Wh (watt-hours)
  • 1 kWh = 3,600,000 J (joules)
  • 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ (megajoules)
  • 1 MWh = 1,000 kWh
  • 1 GWh = 1,000,000 kWh
  • 1 kWh = 3412 BTU (British Thermal Units)

Note: kWh is the standard billing unit for electricity consumption

Common Energy Measurement Equivalents:

Joules (J) Kilojoules (kJ) Watt-hours (Wh) kWh Megajoules (MJ)
1 J 0.001 kJ 0.000278 Wh 2.78e-7 kWh 1e-6 MJ
1,000 J 1 kJ 0.278 Wh 0.000278 kWh 0.001 MJ
3,600 J 3.6 kJ 1 Wh 0.001 kWh 0.0036 MJ
1,000,000 J 1,000 kJ 277.78 Wh 0.2778 kWh 1 MJ
3,600,000 J 3,600 kJ 1,000 Wh 1 kWh 3.6 MJ
10,000,000 J 10,000 kJ 2,777.78 Wh 2.7778 kWh 10 MJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about joules, kilowatt-hours, and energy conversions.

One kilowatt-hour (kWh) is equal to 3,600,000 joules (3.6 megajoules). This conversion comes from the definition of a watt (1 watt = 1 joule/second) and the fact that one hour has 3,600 seconds:

1 kW = 1,000 watts

1 hour = 3,600 seconds

1 kWh = 1,000 W × 3,600 s = 3,600,000 J

1 J = 1 / 3,600,000 kWh = 2.77778 × 10⁻⁷ kWh

This conversion is fundamental for understanding electricity usage and energy consumption in homes and industries.

Joules and watts measure different physical quantities related to energy:

Joule (J) - Energy
  • Measures total energy or work done
  • Scalar quantity (no direction)
  • 1 J = 1 watt-second (W·s)
  • Used for total energy consumption
  • SI unit of energy
Watt (W) - Power
  • Measures rate of energy transfer
  • 1 W = 1 joule per second (J/s)
  • Used for instantaneous power
  • SI unit of power
  • kWh combines power (kW) and time (h)

Think of it like water: joules are the total volume of water, while watts are the flow rate (liters per second).

Kilowatt-hours are the standard unit for measuring electricity consumption for billing purposes:

  • Electric meters: Measure total kWh used over time
  • Billing calculation: Total kWh × rate per kWh = electricity cost
  • Average household usage: ~893 kWh per month (US average)
  • Appliance usage: A 100W light bulb used for 10 hours = 1 kWh
  • Conversion example: A 1500W electric heater used for 2 hours = 3 kWh

Energy (kWh) = Power (kW) × Time (hours)

Example: 1.5 kW × 2 hours = 3 kWh

Cost = 3 kWh × $0.15/kWh = $0.45

Understanding kWh conversions helps consumers calculate and reduce their electricity costs.

Joule to kWh conversions are essential in many practical applications:

Household Applications
  • Calculating appliance energy usage
  • Understanding electricity bills
  • Comparing energy efficiency of devices
  • Sizing solar panel systems
  • Estimating battery capacity (Wh/kWh)
Professional/Technical Uses
  • Engineering and physics calculations
  • Renewable energy production analysis
  • Industrial power consumption monitoring
  • Electric vehicle range calculations
  • Thermal energy and heat transfer calculations

This converter provides the precision needed for both everyday household calculations and more technical engineering applications, with adjustable decimal precision up to 4 places.

These units have standard metric prefixes for different scales of measurement:

  • Joule multiples:
    • 1 millijoule (mJ) = 0.001 J
    • 1 kilojoule (kJ) = 1,000 J
    • 1 megajoule (MJ) = 1,000,000 J (≈ 0.2778 kWh)
    • 1 gigajoule (GJ) = 1,000,000,000 J (≈ 277.78 kWh)
  • kWh multiples:
    • 1 watt-hour (Wh) = 0.001 kWh = 3,600 J
    • 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 3,600,000 J
    • 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) = 1,000 kWh = 3.6 GJ
    • 1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) = 1,000,000 kWh = 3.6 TJ

For large-scale energy production (power plants, national grids), MWh and GWh are commonly used, while households and small businesses use kWh, and scientific applications often use joules and kilojoules.

Conversion Table: Joules to kWh

Common energy measurements for electricity usage and power calculations.

Joules (J) kWh Kilojoules (kJ) Watt-hours (Wh) Common Uses
1 J 2.78e-7 kWh 0.001 kJ 0.000278 Wh Small energy calculations
1,000 J 0.000278 kWh 1 kJ 0.278 Wh Small electrical devices
3,600 J 0.001 kWh 3.6 kJ 1 Wh 1 watt for 1 hour
1,000,000 J 0.2778 kWh 1,000 kJ 277.78 Wh 1 MJ of energy
3,600,000 J 1 kWh 3,600 kJ 1,000 Wh Standard billing unit
10,000,000 J 2.7778 kWh 10,000 kJ 2,777.78 Wh Typical daily household use
36,000,000 J 10 kWh 36,000 kJ 10,000 Wh Higher household consumption
3,600,000,000 J 1,000 kWh (1 MWh) 3,600,000 kJ 1,000,000 Wh Industrial/commercial use

More Energy Converter Tools

Energy Converter

kcal to cal

kcal to cal, cal to kcal, energy converter, calorie conversion, kcal en cal, kcal en calorie, kcal to calories

Accurately convert kilocalories (kcal) to calories (cal) and vice versa with 4 decimal places precision by default.

Try Converter

nm to ft lbs

nm to ft-lbs, ft-lbs to nm, torque converter, torque conversion, nm to ft-lbs converter, newton meters to foot pounds, nm to lb ft

Accurately convert Newton-meters (Nm) to foot-pounds (ft-lbs) and vice versa with 4 decimal places precision by default.

Try Converter

ft lbs to nm

foot-pound to newton-meter, ft·lb to N·m, torque converter, newton-meter to foot-pound, N·m to ft·lb, torque conversion, unit converter, engineering units, ft lbs to nm, ft lbs in nm, ft lbs nm calcul

Accurate foot-pound to newton-meter converter for torque units. Convert ft·lb to N·m and vice versa with precise results. Includes conversion tables, formulas, and detailed explanations for engineers and mechanics.

Try Converter

kj to j

kJ to joules, kilojoules to joules, energy conversion, kJ converter, joule calculator, kj to j, change kj to j, kilo joule to joule, kj in j

Convert kilojoules to joules instantly with our accurate online converter. Supports bidirectional conversion with formula, examples, and reference table.

Try Converter

kj to kcal

kJ to kcal, kilojoules to kilocalories, kilojoule naar kcal, food calorie converter, kjul kcal, kjoule in kcal, kj to kilocalories

Convert kilojoules (kJ) to kilocalories (kcal) for food, diet, and fitness tracking—1 kcal = 4.184 kJ.

Try Converter

kcal to kJ

kcal to kJ, kilocalories to kilojoules, food energy converter, diet tracking units, kcal to kjoules, kcal in kjoule, kcal kjoule conversion

Convert kcal to kJ (kilocalories to kilojoules) for food nutrition, diet, and fitness—1 kcal = 4.184 kJ.

Try Converter

nm to inch pounds

newton meters to inch pounds, N·m to in·lbs, torque converter, engineering units, nm to inch pounds, nm to in lbs, newton meters to in lbs, nm to inlb

Convert between Newton Meters (N·m) and Inch Pounds (in·lbs) with precision — ideal for engineering, mechanics, and tool use.

Try Converter

J to kJ

joule to kilojoule converter, J to kJ conversion, 1000 J to kJ, energy unit conversion J kJ

Free online Joule to Kilojoule converter (1 kJ = 1000 J). Ideal for physics experiments, energy calculations, nutritional calorie conversion, and engineering work.

Try Converter

Joule to Kilowatt-hour

joules to kwh, j to kwh converter, energy conversion, joule to kilowatt hour, j to kilowatt hour, energy unit converter

Accurate Joules to kWh converter for energy calculations. Convert joules (J) to kilowatt-hours (kWh) with step-by-step calculations and precision control.

Try Converter

Tools

Converter

Calculator

Need a Custom Tool or Calculator?

Don't see the tool you need? Let us know via email, and we'll consider adding it.

869241891@qq.com