Thermal Conductivity Converter

Convert thermal conductivity units including watts per meter-kelvin, watts per meter-celsius, BTU per hour-foot-Fahrenheit, calories per second-centimeter-Celsius, and more.

Convert Thermal Conductivity

1 watt per meter-kelvin = 0.577789 BTU per hour-foot-Fahrenheit
Your converted thermal conductivity result will appear here.

Common thermal conductivity conversions

Watts per meter-kelvin to BTU/hr-ft-°F:
1 W/(m·K) = 0.577789 BTU/(hr·ft·°F)

BTU/hr-ft-°F to watts per meter-kelvin:
1 BTU/(hr·ft·°F) = 1.730735 W/(m·K)

Calories per second-centimeter-Celsius to W/(m·K):
1 cal/(s·cm·°C) = 418.4 W/(m·K)

Kilowatts per meter-kelvin to W/(m·K):
1 kW/(m·K) = 1,000 W/(m·K)

Where thermal conductivity conversions are used

Thermal conductivity conversions are useful for insulation, wall assemblies, heat transfer calculations, materials engineering, HVAC, pipes, furnaces, heat exchangers, electronics cooling, and energy modeling.

Use this converter when comparing SI, U.S. customary, and CGS thermal conductivity units.

What your thermal conductivity result means

Your result shows the entered thermal conductivity 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, building, and heat transfer work, make sure the thermal conductivity unit matches your material data sheet, insulation reference, thermal model, or heat transfer formula.

Thermal conductivity converter tips

Frequently asked questions

What is thermal conductivity?

Thermal conductivity measures how easily heat passes through a material.

What is the SI unit of thermal conductivity?

The SI unit of thermal conductivity is watts per meter-kelvin, abbreviated as W/(m·K).

Is W/(m·K) the same as W/(m·°C)?

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

Does higher thermal conductivity mean better insulation?

No. Higher thermal conductivity means heat transfers more easily. Lower thermal conductivity is usually better for insulation.

Can I convert negative thermal conductivity values?

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