Ton to kW Converter — Tons of Refrigeration to Kilowatts
Convert between tons of refrigeration (TR) and kilowatts — the two most common units for rating air-conditioning and refrigeration capacity. Also shows BTU/hr, BTU/min and horsepower for complete HVAC context.
Conversion direction
TR
1 TR = 3.5169 kW = 12,000 BTU/hr
- 1
Conversion factor
1 TR = 3.5169 kW = 3.5169 - 2
Power in kilowatts
3 × 3.5169 = 10.5506
How does this calculator work?
1 ton of refrigeration (TR) = 12,000 BTU/hr = 3.5169 kW = 200 BTU/min. The conversion comes from the latent heat of melting a short ton of ice in 24 hours: 2,000 lb × 144 BTU/lb ÷ 24 hr = 12,000 BTU/hr. Multiply TR by 3.5169 to get kW; divide kW by 3.5169 to get TR.
Formula
How this is calculated
A ton of refrigeration (TR) is a unit of heat-removal rate used mainly in North America for rating air conditioners, chillers and refrigeration equipment. It originated from the cooling effect of melting ice: a 2,000 lb (short ton) block of ice absorbs 288,000 BTU as it melts over 24 hours (at 144 BTU/lb latent heat), which works out to exactly 12,000 BTU/hr. That figure became the standard definition of one ton of refrigeration.
Converting to SI units: 1 BTU = 1,055.05585262 J (exact international standard). Dividing by 3,600 s/hr gives 1 BTU/hr = 0.29307107 W. Therefore 1 TR = 12,000 × 0.29307107 W = 3,516.85 W = 3.5169 kW. This is an exact conversion through the defined BTU.
In everyday HVAC practice, a split-unit room air conditioner is typically 1–2 TR (3.5–7 kW). A family home might need 3–5 TR (10.5–17.5 kW). Commercial buildings use chillers rated from 20 TR to several thousand TR. When comparing product specs, always check whether the manufacturer quotes nominal (often rounded) or actual COP-adjusted power consumption, as the ton rating refers to cooling capacity, not electrical input power.
Frequently asked questions
The term comes from the era before mechanical refrigeration. Ice was the main cooling medium, and one ton of refrigeration was defined as the rate of heat removal equivalent to melting one short ton (2,000 lb) of ice in 24 hours — exactly 12,000 BTU/hr or 3.517 kW. The unit survived into modern HVAC practice.
No. The refrigeration ton is based on the US short ton (2,000 lb ≈ 907 kg), not the metric tonne (1,000 kg). However, since the unit is just a defined rate of energy transfer (12,000 BTU/hr), the mass of ice is historical context, not an active measurement. 1 TR = 3.5169 kW regardless of the ton convention.
The TR rating is the rate of heat removed from the space, not the electricity consumed. An air conditioner's coefficient of performance (COP) is typically 2.5–5, meaning it moves 2.5–5 units of heat for every unit of electricity used. A 3 TR (10.55 kW cooling) unit with COP 3 consumes about 3.5 kW of electricity. Check the EER or COP rating for actual power draw.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Ton to kW Converter — Tons of Refrigeration to Kilowatts [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/ton-to-kw-converter
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Ton to kW Converter — Tons of Refrigeration to Kilowatts." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/ton-to-kw-converter.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Ton to kW Converter — Tons of Refrigeration to Kilowatts," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/ton-to-kw-converter
@misc{wecalculate_ton_to_kw_converter, title = {Ton to kW Converter — Tons of Refrigeration to Kilowatts}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/ton-to-kw-converter}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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