{"id":55902,"date":"2015-11-06T12:35:46","date_gmt":"2015-11-06T10:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wpcalc.com\/?p=55902"},"modified":"2026-09-28T09:38:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T06:38:44","slug":"thermal-conductivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/thermal-conductivity\/","title":{"rendered":"Thermal Conductivity Converter"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"not-prose calculator-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculator-title\"><div class=\"flex items-baseline sm:items-center justify-between gap-2 sm:gap-3\"><div class=\"flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center gap-2\"><span class=\"icon icon-calculator text-primary-700! text-base! dark:text-primary-300!\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2 id=\"calculator-title\" class=\"text-lg font-display font-bold\">Convert Thermal Conductivity Between Units<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"calcdash-favorite group\">\n  <button type=\"button\" class=\"favorite\" id=\"favorite\" data-favorite-id=\"55902\" data-favorite-title=\"Thermal Conductivity\" data-favorite-url=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/thermal-conductivity\/\" data-favorite-excerpt=\"Convert thermal conductivity between W\/m\u00b7K, kW\/m\u00b7K, W\/cm\u00b7K, cal\/s\u00b7cm\u00b7K, and BTU-based units. Enter a value, then choose the From unit and To unit.\" aria-label=\"Add to Favorites\" data-favorite-icon=\"icon icon-physic\">\n    <span class=\"icon icon-shape-star-empty\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n  <\/button>\n  <div class=\"calcdash-favorite__tip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n   <span class=\"favorite-tooltip\" id=\"favorite-tooltip\"><\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"favorite-status\"><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><form action=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/thermal-conductivity\/\" method=\"POST\" class=\"calculator\" id=\"calculator-55902\" data-post=\"55902\"><fieldset class=\"fieldset-input\"><legend class=\"sr-only\">Input Fields<\/legend><div class=\"field is-single\" id=\"input-1\"><label for=\"field-1\">Thermal conductivity value<\/label><input type=\"text\" name=\"thermal_conductivity_value\" id=\"field-1\" aria-describedby=\"calc-unit-1 calc-info-1\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"0\" value=\"0.5\"\/><div class=\"unit\" id=\"calc-unit-1\"><\/div><small id=\"calc-info-1\">Enter the thermal conductivity value to convert<\/small><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-2\"><label for=\"field-2\">From unit<\/label><div class=\"grid grid-cols-1\"><select id=\"field-2\" name=\"from_unit\"><option value=\"W\/m\u00b7K\">Watt per meter Kelvin (W\/m\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"kW\/m\u00b7K\">Kilowatt per meter Kelvin (kW\/m\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"W\/cm\u00b7K\">Watt per centimeter Kelvin (W\/cm\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"cal\/s\u00b7cm\u00b7K\">Calorie per second per cm per K (cal\/s\u00b7cm\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"BTU\/h\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F\">BTU per hour per foot per \u00b0F (BTU\/h\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F)<\/option><option value=\"BTU\/s\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F\">BTU per second per foot per \u00b0F (BTU\/s\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F)<\/option><\/select><svg class=\"pointer-events-none col-start-1 row-start-1 mr-2 size-5 self-center justify-self-end text-gray-500 sm:size-4\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n              <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.22 6.22a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06 0L8 8.94l2.72-2.72a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06 1.06l-3.25 3.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06 0L4.22 7.28a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n            <\/svg><\/div><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-3\"><label for=\"field-3\">To unit<\/label><div class=\"grid grid-cols-1\"><select id=\"field-3\" name=\"to_unit\"><option value=\"W\/m\u00b7K\">Watt per meter Kelvin (W\/m\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"kW\/m\u00b7K\">Kilowatt per meter Kelvin (kW\/m\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"W\/cm\u00b7K\">Watt per centimeter Kelvin (W\/cm\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"cal\/s\u00b7cm\u00b7K\">Calorie per second per cm per K (cal\/s\u00b7cm\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"BTU\/h\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F\">BTU per hour per foot per \u00b0F (BTU\/h\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F)<\/option><option value=\"BTU\/s\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F\">BTU per second per foot per \u00b0F (BTU\/s\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F)<\/option><\/select><svg class=\"pointer-events-none col-start-1 row-start-1 mr-2 size-5 self-center justify-self-end text-gray-500 sm:size-4\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n              <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.22 6.22a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06 0L8 8.94l2.72-2.72a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06 1.06l-3.25 3.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06 0L4.22 7.28a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n            <\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/fieldset><div class=\"buttons\"><button type=\"submit\" data-text=\"Re-Calculate\" id=\"calculate-button\" data-post=\"55902\">Calculate<\/button><button type=\"reset\">Reset<\/button><\/div><div class=\"field is-checkbox hidden!\" id=\"field-auto-calc\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"auto-calc\"><label for=\"auto-calc\">Calculate automatically<\/label><small>If enabled, the result will update automatically when you change any value.<\/small><\/div><div class=\"fieldset-result is-hidden\" aria-labelledby=\"result-title\" aria-live=\"polite\" role=\"region\"> <h3 class=\"result-title bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 dark:from-primary-900 dark:to-gray-800\" id=\"result-title\"><span class=\"icon icon-s-pulse\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span> Your Results<\/h3><div class=\"result-box\"><div class=\"field-result\" id=\"output-1\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>Converted Thermal Conductivity<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-1\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"result-actions\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-link\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M12.232 4.232a2.5 2.5 0 0 1 3.536 3.536l-1.225 1.224a.75.75 0 0 0 1.061 1.06l1.224-1.224a4 4 0 0 0-5.656-5.656l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 .225 5.865.75.75 0 0 0 .977-1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1-.142-3.667l3-3Z\"\/><path d=\"M11.603 7.963a.75.75 0 0 0-.977 1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1 .142 3.667l-3 3a2.5 2.5 0 0 1-3.536-3.536l1.225-1.224a.75.75 0 0 0-1.061-1.06l-1.224 1.224a4 4 0 1 0 5.656 5.656l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-.225-5.865Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"copy-link__text\">Copy link to this calculation<\/span><\/button><span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"copy-link-status\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><a href=\"#respond\" class=\"hidden transition-opacity duration-300 opacity-0 w-50 text-sm justify-center items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-300\" id=\"leave-comment\"><span class=\"icon icon-comments\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>Leave a Comment<\/a><\/form><\/section><section id=\"calc-reactions\" class=\"not-prose hidden my-12 bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 border border-indigo-100 rounded-xl px-6 py-4 shadow-sm\" data-post=\"55902\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\"><p id=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"text-sm text-gray-500 text-center mb-2\">How did this result make you feel?<\/p><div role=\"group\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"grid grid-cols-3 sm:flex sm:flex-row sm:justify-around gap-4 sm:items-center sm:flex-wrap\"><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"like\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"like\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude00 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Like <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"helpful\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"helpful\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\udca1 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Helpful <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"confused\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"confused\">1<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude15 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Confused <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"disappointed\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"disappointed\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude1e <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Disappointed <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"inaccurate\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"inaccurate\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u274c <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Inaccurate <\/span><\/button><\/div><div id=\"reaction-message\" class=\"hidden mt-8 rounded-md border border-primary-100 bg-white\/50 backdrop-blur-sm px-4 py-2 text-sm text-center shadow-sm\"><\/div><\/section><div class=\"calcdash-ad not-prose calcdash-ad--calc_result calcdash-ad--in-article\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1721569815777345\" data-ad-slot=\"6317458308\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-1\">.formula-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section class=\"formula-box\" aria-labelledby=\"formula-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"formula-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display mb-4\"><span class=\"icon icon-formula\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Thermal Conductivity Formula<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\t<figure class=\"not-prose formula\">\r\n\t\t<figcaption class=\"formula-title\">Formula<\/figcaption>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"text-base text-gray-800\" id=\"formula\">\n\\[ k_{\\mathrm{to}}=k_{\\mathrm{from}}\\frac{F_{\\mathrm{from}}}{F_{\\mathrm{to}}} \\]\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\t<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\\(k_{\\mathrm{from}}\\) \u2014 thermal conductivity value entered<\/li>\n<li>\\(k_{\\mathrm{to}}\\) \u2014 converted thermal conductivity value<\/li>\n<li>\\(F_{\\mathrm{from}}\\) \u2014 factor that converts one From unit to W\/m\u00b7K<\/li>\n<li>\\(F_{\\mathrm{to}}\\) \u2014 factor that converts one To unit to W\/m\u00b7K<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The calculator first converts the entered value to W\/m\u00b7K, then divides by the factor for the selected output unit. It displays the result rounded to eight decimal places.<\/p>\n<p>\r\n<\/section>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-459\">.calculation-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section id=\"calculation\" class=\"calculation-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculation-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"calculation-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display\"><span class=\"icon icon-unordered-list\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Thermal Conductivity \u2013 Calculation Example<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Convert the default value of 0.5 W\/m\u00b7K to BTU\/h\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F.<\/p>\n<p>\\[ k_{\\mathrm{to}}=0.5\\frac{1}{1.730735}\\approx 0.28889460\\ \\mathrm{BTU\/(h\\cdot ft\\cdot {}^\\circ F)} \\]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result:<\/strong> approximately 0.2888946 BTU\/h\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F.<\/p>\n<p>\n\r\n<\/section>\n<h2>How to use the calculator<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Enter a nonnegative number in <strong>Thermal conductivity value<\/strong>. For example, leave the default 0.5 to follow the calculation above.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the unit attached to that number in <strong>From unit<\/strong>. The default is W\/m\u00b7K.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the unit you need in <strong>To unit<\/strong>. The default is BTU\/h\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F.<\/li>\n<li>Read <strong>Converted Thermal Conductivity<\/strong>, which includes the selected output unit. To check a different conversion, change either unit and use the new result.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If <strong>From unit<\/strong> and <strong>To unit<\/strong> are the same, the numerical value does not change. A unit conversion changes how a conductivity is expressed, not the material property itself.<\/p>\n<h2>What thermal conductivity means<\/h2>\n<p>Thermal conductivity describes how readily heat moves through a material when there is a temperature difference. Its symbol is commonly \\(k\\). A higher conductivity generally means heat can pass through the material more easily; a lower conductivity is often desirable for insulation. Conductivity is a material property, not a measure of how much heat an entire wall, pipe, or component transfers on its own.<\/p>\n<p>For a simple, steady, one-dimensional layer of thickness \\(L\\), the magnitude of conductive heat flux can be expressed as \\(q''=k\\Delta T\/L\\). This relationship shows why conductivity matters: for the same thickness and temperature difference, increasing \\(k\\) increases heat flow per unit area. Actual heat transfer can also depend on geometry, contact between materials, and other heat-transfer mechanisms.<\/p>\n<p>Conductivity values appear in building insulation specifications, electronics cooling calculations, and process equipment data. Sources may use SI units or BTU-based units, so converting them to a common unit helps you compare values. If you need to calculate heat flow rather than convert \\(k\\), use the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/heat-transfer\/\">Heat Transfer calculator<\/a>. For a heat-flow rate per unit area, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/heat-flux-density\/\">Heat Flux Density converter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Supported units and conversion factors<\/h2>\n<p>Each factor below is the number of W\/m\u00b7K represented by one unit of the listed conductivity. These are the factors used by this calculator:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>W\/m\u00b7K:<\/strong> 1<\/li>\n<li><strong>kW\/m\u00b7K:<\/strong> 1,000<\/li>\n<li><strong>W\/cm\u00b7K:<\/strong> 100<\/li>\n<li><strong>cal\/s\u00b7cm\u00b7K:<\/strong> 418.68<\/li>\n<li><strong>BTU\/h\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F:<\/strong> 1.730735<\/li>\n<li><strong>BTU\/s\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F:<\/strong> 6,238.6464<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For example, a value in kW\/m\u00b7K is multiplied by 1,000 to obtain W\/m\u00b7K. A value in W\/m\u00b7K is divided by 100 to obtain W\/cm\u00b7K. The calorie and BTU entries use the calculator\u2019s preset factors; they are not additional material properties.<\/p>\n<h2>Assumptions and practical limits<\/h2>\n<p>This converter changes conductivity units only. It does not account for how conductivity may vary with temperature, material composition, moisture, or direction within a material. When comparing published values, check that they refer to comparable conditions. Also distinguish thermal conductivity from <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/specific-heat\/\">specific heat<\/a>: specific heat concerns energy needed to change temperature, not the rate at which heat conducts through a material.<\/p>\n<p>The K and \u00b0F in these conductivity units refer to <em>temperature differences<\/em>, not absolute temperatures. For a temperature difference, a change of 1 K equals a change of 1 \u00b0C; Fahrenheit-sized differences require a scale conversion. Do not add a temperature offset when converting thermal conductivity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Check BTU\/s results for critical use:<\/strong> the calculator\u2019s two BTU factors are not consistent with the 3,600 seconds in an hour. Multiplying its BTU\/h\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F factor, 1.730735, by 3,600 gives 6,230.646 W\/m\u00b7K, rather than its preset 6,238.6464 for BTU\/s\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F. Conversions involving BTU\/s\u00b7ft\u00b7\u00b0F may therefore disagree with a conversion based solely on changing hours to seconds. Verify the required factor independently before using such a result in engineering work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Convert thermal conductivity between W\/m\u00b7K, kW\/m\u00b7K, W\/cm\u00b7K, cal\/s\u00b7cm\u00b7K, and BTU-based units. Enter a value, then choose the From unit and To unit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-55902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-converters","tag-physics-units"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55902"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55902\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65316,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55902\/revisions\/65316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}