{"id":55910,"date":"2015-10-24T15:55:16","date_gmt":"2015-10-24T13:55:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wpcalc.com\/?p=55910"},"modified":"2026-09-28T09:36:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T06:36:35","slug":"specific-heat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/specific-heat\/","title":{"rendered":"Specific Heat 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 Specific Heat Capacity Between Units<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"calcdash-favorite group\">\n  <button type=\"button\" class=\"favorite\" id=\"favorite\" data-favorite-id=\"55910\" data-favorite-title=\"Specific Heat\" data-favorite-url=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/specific-heat\/\" data-favorite-excerpt=\"Convert specific heat capacity between J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C, J\/kg\u00b7K, kJ\/kg\u00b7K, cal\/g\u00b7\u00b0C, and BTU\/lb\u00b7\u00b0F. Enter a value and 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\/specific-heat\/\" method=\"POST\" class=\"calculator\" id=\"calculator-55910\" data-post=\"55910\"><fieldset class=\"fieldset-input\"><legend class=\"sr-only\">Input Fields<\/legend><div class=\"field is-single\" id=\"input-1\"><label for=\"field-1\">Specific heat value<\/label><input type=\"text\" name=\"specific_heat_value\" id=\"field-1\" aria-describedby=\"calc-unit-1 calc-info-1\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"0\" value=\"4.18\"\/><div class=\"unit\" id=\"calc-unit-1\"><\/div><small id=\"calc-info-1\">Enter the specific heat capacity 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=\"J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C\">Joule per gram per degree Celsius (J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C)<\/option><option value=\"J\/kg\u00b7K\">Joule per kilogram per kelvin (J\/kg\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"kJ\/kg\u00b7K\">Kilojoule per kilogram per kelvin (kJ\/kg\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"cal\/g\u00b7\u00b0C\">Calorie per gram per degree Celsius (cal\/g\u00b7\u00b0C)<\/option><option value=\"BTU\/lb\u00b7\u00b0F\">BTU per pound per degree Fahrenheit (BTU\/lb\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=\"J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C\">Joule per gram per degree Celsius (J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C)<\/option><option value=\"J\/kg\u00b7K\">Joule per kilogram per kelvin (J\/kg\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"kJ\/kg\u00b7K\">Kilojoule per kilogram per kelvin (kJ\/kg\u00b7K)<\/option><option value=\"cal\/g\u00b7\u00b0C\">Calorie per gram per degree Celsius (cal\/g\u00b7\u00b0C)<\/option><option value=\"BTU\/lb\u00b7\u00b0F\">BTU per pound per degree Fahrenheit (BTU\/lb\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=\"55910\">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 Specific Heat<\/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=\"55910\" 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\">1<\/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\">0<\/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>Specific Heat Conversion 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\\[c_{\\mathrm{to}}=c_{\\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>\\(c_{\\mathrm{from}}\\) \u2014 the value entered in the From unit<\/li>\n<li>\\(c_{\\mathrm{to}}\\) \u2014 the converted value in the To unit<\/li>\n<li>\\(F_{\\mathrm{from}}\\) and \\(F_{\\mathrm{to}}\\) \u2014 the calculator\u2019s factors for converting each unit to J\/kg\u00b7K<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The calculator first converts the entered value to J\/kg\u00b7K, then divides by the factor for the selected output unit. Its factors are listed below; the BTU\/lb\u00b7\u00b0F factor requires particular caution.<\/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>Specific Heat \u2013 Calculation Example<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> convert the default value of 4.18 J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C to kJ\/kg\u00b7K.<\/p>\n<p>Both units have a conversion factor of 1,000 relative to J\/kg\u00b7K:<\/p>\n<p>\\[4.18\\times1{,}000=4{,}180\\ \\mathrm{J\/(kg\\cdot K)}\\]<\/p>\n<p>\\[4{,}180\\div1{,}000=4.18\\ \\mathrm{kJ\/(kg\\cdot K)}\\]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result:<\/strong> 4.18 kJ\/kg\u00b7K.<\/p>\n<p>\n\r\n<\/section>\n<h2>How to use the calculator<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Enter the number you want to convert in <strong>Specific heat value<\/strong>. The field accepts zero and positive values.<\/li>\n<li>Select the unit attached to that number in <strong>From unit<\/strong>. The default is J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C.<\/li>\n<li>Select the unit you need in <strong>To unit<\/strong>. The default is kJ\/kg\u00b7K.<\/li>\n<li>Read <strong>Converted Specific Heat<\/strong>, which displays the converted number and its unit. The result is rounded to eight decimal places.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Choose the units based on how your source and destination express specific heat, not on the temperature at which a measurement was made. For example, a value stated in J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C belongs in the J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C input option even if the substance was measured at a particular temperature in kelvin.<\/p>\n<h2>What specific heat capacity means<\/h2>\n<p>Specific heat capacity describes how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree, under stated conditions. A larger value means more energy is needed for the same mass and temperature rise. For a simple calculation with approximately constant specific heat, heat added can be estimated using \\(Q=mc\\Delta T\\), where \\(Q\\) is heat, \\(m\\) is mass, \\(c\\) is specific heat capacity, and \\(\\Delta T\\) is the temperature change.<\/p>\n<p>Specific heat is expressed per unit mass and per unit of temperature <em>change<\/em>. A change of one degree Celsius has the same size as a change of one kelvin, so converting between J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C and J\/kg\u00b7K changes the mass scale but not the size of the temperature increment. Likewise, J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C and kJ\/kg\u00b7K have the same numerical value: multiplying the energy and mass units by 1,000 cancels out.<\/p>\n<p>Consistent units matter when comparing material data or using a specific heat value in a heat calculation. If mass is in kilograms, temperature change is in kelvin, and energy is required in joules, use a value in J\/kg\u00b7K. Specific heat is not the same as <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/thermal-conductivity\/\">thermal conductivity<\/a>, which concerns the transfer of heat through a material, or <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/thermal-expansion\/\">thermal expansion<\/a>, which concerns changes in size with temperature.<\/p>\n<h2>Conversion factors and practical limits<\/h2>\n<p>The table shows the factors programmed into this calculator. Multiply a value in the listed unit by its factor to obtain the calculator\u2019s intermediate value in J\/kg\u00b7K.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>From unit<\/th>\n<th>Calculator factor to J\/kg\u00b7K<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C<\/td>\n<td>1,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>J\/kg\u00b7K<\/td>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>kJ\/kg\u00b7K<\/td>\n<td>1,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>cal\/g\u00b7\u00b0C<\/td>\n<td>4,186.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>BTU\/lb\u00b7\u00b0F<\/td>\n<td>2,326<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Important BTU limitation:<\/strong> the calculator uses 2,326 J\/kg\u00b7K for 1 BTU\/lb\u00b7\u00b0F. That is not the conventional physical conversion, which is approximately 4,187 J\/kg\u00b7K for 1 BTU per pound per degree Fahrenheit, depending on the BTU definition. Therefore, results involving BTU\/lb\u00b7\u00b0F should not be used for engineering or other work requiring an accurate conversion. The discrepancy is in the calculator\u2019s factor, not a rounding difference.<\/p>\n<p>The calculator uses 4,186.8 J\/kg\u00b7K for 1 cal\/g\u00b7\u00b0C. Calorie definitions can differ slightly, so check the definition used by your source when precision matters. The other listed metric factors follow directly from the stated mass and energy prefixes.<\/p>\n<p>A unit conversion does not establish which specific heat value applies to a material. Specific heat can vary with temperature, pressure, composition, and phase; tables may also distinguish heat capacity at constant pressure from heat capacity at constant volume. Confirm that the source value matches the conditions of your calculation before using it in a <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/heat-transfer\/\">heat transfer<\/a> analysis. If a process crosses a phase change, a single specific heat value alone does not account for the energy involved in that change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Convert specific heat capacity between J\/g\u00b7\u00b0C, J\/kg\u00b7K, kJ\/kg\u00b7K, cal\/g\u00b7\u00b0C, and BTU\/lb\u00b7\u00b0F. Enter a value and 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-55910","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\/55910","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=55910"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55910\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65311,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55910\/revisions\/65311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}