Thermal Resistance Converter

Convert thermal resistance units including kelvin per watt, celsius per watt, Fahrenheit-hour per BTU, square meter-kelvin per watt, square foot-hour-Fahrenheit per BTU, and more.

Convert Thermal Resistance

1 kelvin per watt = 0.527527 Fahrenheit-hour per BTU
Your converted thermal resistance result will appear here.

Common thermal resistance conversions

K/W to °C/W:
1 K/W = 1 °C/W

K/W to °F·hr/BTU:
1 K/W = 0.527527 °F·hr/BTU

°F·hr/BTU to K/W:
1 °F·hr/BTU = 1.89563 K/W

m²·K/W to ft²·hr·°F/BTU:
1 m²·K/W = 5.67826 ft²·hr·°F/BTU

Where thermal resistance conversions are used

Thermal resistance conversions are useful for insulation R-values, wall and roof assemblies, heat sinks, electronics cooling, thermal interface materials, building energy calculations, and heat transfer design.

Use this converter when comparing SI, U.S. customary, component-level, and area-based thermal resistance units.

What your thermal resistance result means

Your result shows the entered thermal resistance 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, or electronics work, make sure the unit type matches your reference. Component thermal resistance often uses K/W or °C/W, while insulation R-values often use area-based units.

Thermal resistance converter tips

Frequently asked questions

What is thermal resistance?

Thermal resistance measures how much a material, layer, or component resists heat flow.

What is the SI unit of thermal resistance?

For component thermal resistance, the common SI unit is kelvin per watt, abbreviated as K/W.

Is K/W the same as °C/W?

For temperature differences, K/W and °C/W are numerically equivalent.

Is thermal resistance the same as R-value?

R-value is an area-based thermal resistance commonly used for insulation and building materials.

Can I convert negative thermal resistance values?

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