Specific Heat Converter

Convert specific heat capacity units including joules per kilogram-kelvin, kilojoules per kilogram-kelvin, calories per gram-celsius, BTU per pound-Fahrenheit, and more.

Convert Specific Heat

1 joule per kilogram-kelvin = 0.000238846 calorie per gram-celsius
Your converted specific heat result will appear here.

Common specific heat conversions

J/(kg·K) to kJ/(kg·K):
1 J/(kg·K) = 0.001 kJ/(kg·K)

cal/(g·°C) to J/(kg·K):
1 cal/(g·°C) = 4,184 J/(kg·K)

BTU/(lb·°F) to J/(kg·K):
1 BTU/(lb·°F) = 4,186.8 J/(kg·K)

J/(kg·K) to cal/(g·°C):
1 J/(kg·K) = 0.000238846 cal/(g·°C)

Where specific heat conversions are used

Specific heat conversions are useful for heat transfer calculations, thermal storage, HVAC systems, water heating, cooling loads, metal heating, process engineering, and material property comparisons.

Use this converter when comparing SI, U.S. customary, and calorie-based specific heat units.

What your specific heat result means

Your result shows the entered specific heat capacity converted from the starting unit into the selected ending unit. The calculator also shows the conversion rate used so you can verify the calculation.

For engineering and thermal calculations, make sure the specific heat unit matches your material data sheet, fluid table, heat transfer equation, or thermal model.

Specific heat converter tips

Frequently asked questions

What is specific heat?

Specific heat is the amount of heat energy required to raise one unit of mass by one degree of temperature.

What is the SI unit of specific heat?

The common SI unit of specific heat is joules per kilogram-kelvin, abbreviated as J/(kg·K).

Is J/(kg·K) the same as J/(kg·°C)?

For temperature differences, J/(kg·K) and J/(kg·°C) are numerically equivalent.

How many J/(kg·K) are in one cal/(g·°C)?

One calorie per gram-celsius equals 4,184 J/(kg·K).

Can I convert negative specific heat values?

This converter is designed for specific heat magnitude conversions, so it uses non-negative values.