Convert British Thermal Units to Tons of TNT
Convert British Thermal Units (BTU) to Tons of TNT (t(TNT)) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
t(TNT) = BTU × 2.521644007e-7
About British Thermal Units
A British Thermal Unit (BTU) - the heat to raise 1 lb of water by 1°F - equals exactly 1,055.05585262 J. It dominates US HVAC: room air conditioners are rated in BTU/h (5,000-24,000 BTU/h = 1.5-7.0 kW); one ton of refrigeration is exactly 12,000 BTU/h. Natural gas is billed in therms (100,000 BTU) in the US. Higher heating values: natural gas ~1,020-1,050 BTU/ft³; No. 2 fuel oil ~138,700 BTU/US gal; propane ~91,500 BTU/US gal. 1 BTU = 1,055.06 J = 252.164 cal = 0.29307 Wh.
About Tons of TNT
A ton of TNT is an energy unit defined as exactly 10⁹ thermochemical calories = 4.184 GJ. The Trinity test (first nuclear weapon, 1945) yielded ~21 kilotons TNT = 87.9 TJ. The Tsar Bomba yielded ~50 megatons TNT = 209 PJ - the largest human-made explosion in history. Hiroshima's Little Boy yielded ~15 kilotons = 62.8 TJ. The Tunguska 1908 airburst released ~10-15 megatons TNT. Earthquake magnitude 6.0 releases ~63 kilotons TNT equivalent in seismic energy. 1 t(TNT) = 4.184 GJ = 4,184 MJ = 1,162.8 kWh.
Quick Reference Table
| British Thermal Units (BTU) | Tons of TNT (t(TNT)) |
|---|---|
| 1 BTU | 2.522 × 10-7 t(TNT) |
| 2 BTU | 5.043 × 10-7 t(TNT) |
| 5 BTU | 1.261 × 10-6 t(TNT) |
| 10 BTU | 2.522 × 10-6 t(TNT) |
| 25 BTU | 6.304 × 10-6 t(TNT) |
| 50 BTU | 1.261 × 10-5 t(TNT) |
| 100 BTU | 2.522 × 10-5 t(TNT) |