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Thermal Conductivity Conversion
Tool Introduction
Thermal Conductivity Conversion is an online thermal conductivity unit conversion tool that supports conversions between watt per meter kelvin (W/(m·K)), watt per centimeter kelvin (W/(cm·K)), calorie per centimeter second kelvin (cal/(cm·s·K)), kilocalorie per meter hour kelvin (kcal/(m·h·K)), and BTU inch per square foot hour degree Fahrenheit (BTU·in/(ft²·h·°F)). Enter any value and unit to instantly view the corresponding results in all other units, suitable for building insulation design, materials science, thermal engineering calculations, HVAC engineering, and more.
How to Use
- Enter a value
Type the value you want to convert in the input field. Both integers and decimals are supported, e.g.
0.04,237 - Select source unit
Choose the thermal conductivity unit of your input value from the dropdown list (W/(m·K)/W/(cm·K)/cal/(cm·s·K)/kcal/(m·h·K)/BTU·in/(ft²·h·°F))
- View results
Click the "Convert" button or press Enter. The results area below will display the equivalent values in all units, with a copy button next to each result for convenient use
Use Cases
- Building insulation design: When selecting insulation materials, you need to compare the thermal conductivity of different materials (e.g., polyurethane insulation board 0.022 W/(m·K), rock wool 0.04 W/(m·K)). Use this tool to quickly convert between different units for thermal calculations and material selection
- Heat sink and electronic cooling design: LED heat sinks, CPU coolers, etc. often use copper (~401 W/(m·K)) or aluminum (~237 W/(m·K)). Different countries and standards may label thermal conductivity in different units. Use this tool to quickly unify units for comparison
- Materials science and thermal engineering: When studying heat transfer and engineering thermodynamics, thermal conductivity is the core parameter in Fourier's law of heat conduction (q = -k·dT/dx). Different textbooks and literature may use different unit systems. Use this tool to visually verify unit conversions
Core Advantages
- Daily free quota
This tool grants you free daily usage. Everyday light conversions are satisfied at zero cost; for higher-frequency or professional needs, unlock more quota with a membership
- Privacy & security
All conversions run locally in your browser. Your input values are never uploaded to any server, 100% protecting your privacy
- No installation needed
No installation or registration required — open the page and use it instantly, fully compatible across desktop, mobile, and tablet
- Comprehensive unit coverage
Supports 5 thermal conductivity units across the SI, CGS, and imperial systems, meeting both engineering and academic needs
- High-precision conversion
Calculates based on precise conversion factors with auto-formatted results, supporting both extremely small and large values for clear reading
- One-click copy
Every result comes with a copy button. Click it to copy the value to your clipboard for easy pasting into reports or drawings
Thermal Conductivity Unit Conversion Relationships
The following are the conversion relationships between thermal conductivity units, with watt per meter kelvin (W/(m·K)) as the base unit:
| Unit name | Abbreviation | Conversion relationship | Equivalent W/(m·K) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watt per meter kelvin | W/(m·K) | 1 W/(m·K) (base unit) | 1 |
| Watt per centimeter kelvin | W/(cm·K) | 1 W/(cm·K) = 100 W/(m·K) | 100 |
| Calorie per centimeter second kelvin | cal/(cm·s·K) | 1 cal/(cm·s·K) = 418.68 W/(m·K) | 418.68 |
| Kilocalorie per meter hour kelvin | kcal/(m·h·K) | 1 kcal/(m·h·K) = 1.163 W/(m·K) | 1.163 |
| BTU inch per square foot hour degree Fahrenheit | BTU·in/(ft²·h·°F) | 1 BTU·in/(ft²·h·°F) = 0.1442279 W/(m·K) | 0.1442279 |
Reference Thermal Conductivity Values for Common Materials
The following are reference thermal conductivity values for common materials (at room temperature), for comparison:
| Material | Thermal conductivity |
|---|---|
| Air (still) / Aerogel | 0.024 ~ 0.04 W/(m·K) |
| Insulation materials (glass wool/rock wool/polyurethane) | 0.04 ~ 0.12 W/(m·K) |
| Wood (pine/oak) | 0.15 ~ 0.5 W/(m·K) |
| Water (20°C) | 0.6 W/(m·K) |
| Glass / Brick / Concrete | 0.8 ~ 2.0 W/(m·K) |
| Stainless steel | 16 ~ 30 W/(m·K) |
| Cast iron / Carbon steel | 50 ~ 80 W/(m·K) |
| Aluminum | 120 ~ 240 W/(m·K) |
| Copper / Silver | 237 ~ 401 W/(m·K) |
| Diamond / Graphene | 1,000 ~ 2,000 W/(m·K) |
Factors Affecting Thermal Conductivity
Thermal conductivity reflects a material's ability to conduct heat: metals (such as copper and aluminum) have high thermal conductivity and are excellent heat conductors, while air, foam, and glass wool have low thermal conductivity and are excellent insulation materials. When selecting materials in engineering, consider the operating temperature, humidity, and load requirements together.
Thermal conductivity is not a fixed value; it is affected by temperature, density, and moisture content. As temperature rises, metal thermal conductivity slightly decreases while non-metallic materials (such as water and gases) increase. Increased moisture content significantly raises the thermal conductivity of insulation materials, reducing insulation effectiveness, so moisture-resistant insulation should be chosen in humid environments.
FAQ
Thermal conductivity is a physical quantity that characterizes a material's ability to conduct heat. The SI unit is watt per meter kelvin W/(m·K). Its physical meaning is: under steady-state heat transfer conditions, the amount of heat conducted per second through 1 square meter of a material 1 meter thick when the temperature difference is 1 K (1°C). For example, copper has a thermal conductivity of about 401 W/(m·K), meaning that 401 joules of heat are conducted per second through each square meter of a 1-meter-thick copper plate with a 1°C temperature difference. The larger the thermal conductivity, the faster the material transfers heat.
1 W/(cm·K) = 100 W/(m·K). Since 1 cm = 0.01 m, values in cm-based units are 100 times larger than in m-based units. For example, copper's thermal conductivity is approximately 4.01 W/(cm·K), which is 401 W/(m·K). Some scientific literature uses cm units, while engineering practice typically uses m units. This tool supports quick conversion between the two.
1 cal/(cm·s·K) = 418.68 W/(m·K). cal/(cm·s·K) is a thermal conductivity unit commonly used in early engineering thermodynamics, using calories as the heat unit. The conversion principle: 1 cal = 4.1868 J, 1 cm = 0.01 m, so 1 cal/(cm·s·K) = 4.1868 J / (0.01 m·s·K) = 418.68 W/(m·K). This unit may still appear in some older engineering handbooks and literature. Use this tool for quick conversion.
BTU·in/(ft²·h·°F) is the imperial thermal conductivity unit widely used in the US construction and HVAC industries. BTU (British Thermal Unit) is the imperial heat unit, in is inches, ft² is square feet, h is hours, and °F is degrees Fahrenheit. Conversion: 1 BTU·in/(ft²·h·°F) ≈ 0.1442279 W/(m·K). For example, common insulation material polyurethane has a thermal conductivity of about 0.15 BTU·in/(ft²·h·°F) ≈ 0.022 W/(m·K). This unit is commonly found in US imported building materials and HVAC design documentation.
Any size is supported. From extremely small values (such as 0.0001 W/(m·K) for aerogel) to extremely large ones (such as 2,000 W/(m·K) for diamond), all convert normally. Results are auto-formatted with enough significant digits for easy reading.
Instant. All conversions are calculated locally in your browser in real time. Enter a value and click Convert to see results in all 5 units immediately, with no waiting for uploads or server responses.
No. All conversion calculations are performed entirely locally in your browser using pure JavaScript mathematical computation. Your input data never leaves your device. Please use with confidence.
Open and use instantly, no registration required. This tool provides free daily usage for everyday lightweight conversions at zero cost. When you need higher-frequency or more professional batch conversions, a membership unlocks more quota to handle various scenarios with ease.
Yes, mobile supported. The page is responsive and works smoothly on phones, tablets, and desktops. Complete thermal conductivity conversions anytime, anywhere, without installing an app.
More convenient and accurate. Compared to manually multiplying conversion factors or writing Excel formulas, this tool automatically lists all 5 unit results with built-in precise factors, so you won't make mistakes from misremembering factors like 1 cal = 4.1868 J, and it also supports one-click copy.
Confusing unit systems is the most common. For example, using W/(cm·K) as if it were W/(m·K) (a 100x difference) or confusing kcal/(m·h·K) with cal/(cm·s·K) (about 360x difference). Confirming the source unit before using this tool helps you avoid such mistakes.
This tool uses JavaScript double-precision floating-point numbers for calculations, providing sufficient accuracy for most engineering and academic scenarios. The cal/(cm·s·K) to W/(m·K) conversion uses the standard factor 1 cal = 4.1868 J, and BTU conversions use international standard conversion ratios. Results are displayed with up to 6 significant decimal places; excessively long decimals are automatically truncated, with virtually no impact in practical use.
Content last updated：2026-08-06
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