Convert BTU to Foot-pounds
1 British thermal unit (BTU) equals 778.1692623 foot-pounds (ft·lbf).
1 BTU = 778.1692623 ft·lbf
Type in either box. Scientific notation works: 1.5e-3.
Converting a list? Use the bulk BTU to foot-pound converter to paste a column from Excel.
How to Convert BTU to Foot-pound
- 1 BTU = 778.1692623 ft·lbf
- 1 ft·lbf = 0.001285067463 BTU
- Example: convert 15 BTU to ft·lbf: 15 BTU = 15 × 778.1692623 ft·lbf = 11672.53893 ft·lbf
Reference conditions. BTU: International Table BTU (BTU_IT), 1055.05585262 J exactly.
Formula
ft·lbf = BTU × 778.169262266
Derivation from SI units:
- 1 BTU_IT = 1055.05585262 J (exact)
- 1 ft·lbf = 0.3048 m × 4.4482216152605 N = 1.3558179483314 J
- 1 BTU = 1055.05585262 J ÷ 1.355817948331 J per ft·lbf = 778.169262266 ft·lbf
Both units are defined exactly, so the factor is exact. BTU definition: British thermal unit; Foot-pound definition: foot-pound.
Worked examples
- A reading of 3412 BTU converts to 2655113.523 ft·lbf.
3412 BTU × 778.1692623 = 2655113.523 ft·lbf - A value of 24000 BTU is 18676062.29 ft·lbf.
24000 BTU × 778.1692623 = 18676062.29 ft·lbf
BTU to Foot-pound conversion table
| BTU | Foot-pounds (ft·lbf) |
|---|---|
| 1 BTU | 778.1692623 ft·lbf |
| 100 BTU | 77816.92623 ft·lbf |
| 1000 BTU | 778169.2623 ft·lbf |
| 3412 BTU | 2655113.523 ft·lbf |
| 5000 BTU | 3890846.311 ft·lbf |
| 10000 BTU | 7781692.623 ft·lbf |
| 12000 BTU | 9338031.147 ft·lbf |
| 24000 BTU | 18676062.29 ft·lbf |
| 50000 BTU | 38908463.11 ft·lbf |
| 100000 BTU | 77816926.23 ft·lbf |
| 1000000 BTU | 778169262.3 ft·lbf |
Where it's used
BTU are used for furnace, boiler and fuel ratings in the US, while foot-pounds appear in muzzle energy of firearms and air rifles. Both measure energy, work and heat, so the conversion is a fixed factor.
BTU to other energy units
| Conversion | 1 BTU equals |
|---|---|
| BTU to joule | 1055.055853 J |
| BTU to kilojoule | 1.055055853 kJ |
| BTU to megajoule | 0.001055055853 MJ |
| BTU to calorie | 252.1644007 cal |
| BTU to kilocalorie | 0.2521644007 kcal |
| BTU to watt-hour | 0.2930710702 Wh |
| BTU to kilowatt-hour | 0.0002930710702 kWh |
| BTU to therm | 0.00001000238767 thm |
| BTU to electronvolt | 6.585140678 × 10²¹ eV |
| BTU to foot-pound | 778.1692623 ft·lbf |
| BTU to erg | 10550558530 erg |
Frequently asked questions
How many foot-pounds are in 1 British thermal unit?
1 BTU = 778.1692623 ft·lbf.
How do I convert British thermal units to foot-pounds?
Multiply the value in BTU by 778.1692623. For example, 15 BTU × 778.1692623 = 11672.53893 ft·lbf.
Is the BTU to ft·lbf conversion exact?
Yes. Both units are defined exactly, so the ratio is exact; its decimal form does not terminate and is shown here to 10 significant figures (more with the precision selector).
Sources
- Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Appendix B.8, "British thermal unit_IT (Btu_IT)".
- Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Appendix B.8, "foot pound-force (ft·lbf)".
Last reviewed: . Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.
Cite this page
APA
Scientific Converters. (2026, October 15). Convert BTU to Foot-pounds. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/energy/btu-to-foot-pounds/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Convert BTU to Foot-pounds," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 17, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/energy/btu-to-foot-pounds/