Convert Watts per Square Meter to Calories (IT) per Second per Square Centimeter
Watt per Square Meter (W/m²) to Calorie (IT) per Second per Square Centimeter (cal/(s·cm²)) heat flux density conversion — enter any value below to get an instant result, or use the table for common values.
Results from this calculator are estimates provided for general informational purposes only, based on formulas, rates, and standards commonly accepted as of 2026. Figures may differ slightly from other calculators or professional sources due to rounding methods, differing assumptions, or regional regulations, and rules may change over time. Always consult a qualified professional — such as a financial advisor, healthcare provider, or other relevant specialist — before making decisions based on these results.
Result
1 W/m² = 2.38846E-05 cal/(s·cm²)
1 Watt per Square Meter = 2.38846E-05 Calories (IT) per Second per Square Centimeter
1 Calorie (IT) per Second per Square Centimeter = 41868 Watts per Square Meter
1 W/m² in every supported unit
Conversion chart: Watt per Square Meter to Calories (IT) per Second per Square Centimeter
Conversion table
| Watt per Square Meter (W/m²) | Calorie (IT) per Second per Square Centimeter (cal/(s·cm²)) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 W/m² | 2.38846E-07 cal/(s·cm²) |
| 0.1 W/m² | 2.38846E-06 cal/(s·cm²) |
| 1 W/m² | 2.38846E-05 cal/(s·cm²) |
| 2 W/m² | 4.77692E-05 cal/(s·cm²) |
| 3 W/m² | 7.16538E-05 cal/(s·cm²) |
| 5 W/m² | 0.00011942295 cal/(s·cm²) |
| 10 W/m² | 0.0002388459 cal/(s·cm²) |
| 20 W/m² | 0.00047769179 cal/(s·cm²) |
| 50 W/m² | 0.0011942295 cal/(s·cm²) |
| 100 W/m² | 0.002388459 cal/(s·cm²) |
| 1000 W/m² | 0.02388459 cal/(s·cm²) |
Watt per Square Meter (W/m²)
Definition: The SI derived unit of heat flux density — the watts of heat or radiant power currently passing through one square meter of surface.
History: Formed directly from the watt and square meter once both were standardized as SI units, giving heat-transfer and radiation science a coherent power-per-area unit.
Current use: The standard unit for solar irradiance, building heat-gain/loss rates, and industrial heat-transfer calculations worldwide.
Calorie (IT) per Second per Square Centimeter (cal/(s·cm²))
Definition: A CGS-based heat flux unit combining the International Table calorie, second, and square centimeter — a classical physics and physical-chemistry combination.
History: Rooted in the CGS unit system widely used in 19th and 20th century physics and physical chemistry before SI units became the international standard.
Current use: Still found in classical thermodynamics and combustion-science literature from before SI's widespread adoption.
Supported Units
| Unit | Symbol | In W/m² |
|---|---|---|
| Watt per Square Meter | W/m² | 1 W/m² |
| Kilowatt per Square Meter | kW/m² | 1000 W/m² |
| Watt per Square Centimeter | W/cm² | 10000 W/m² |
| Watt per Square Inch | W/in² | 1550.0031 W/m² |
| Kilocalorie (IT) per Hour per Square Meter | kcal/(h·m²) | 1.163 W/m² |
| Calorie (IT) per Second per Square Centimeter | cal/(s·cm²) | 41868 W/m² |
| Btu (IT) per Hour per Square Foot | Btu/(h·ft²) | 3.1546 W/m² |
| Btu (IT) per Second per Square Foot | Btu/(s·ft²) | 11356.53 W/m² |
| Horsepower per Square Foot | hp/ft² | 8026.65 W/m² |
| Foot Pound per Minute per Square Foot | ft·lb/(min·ft²) | 0.2432 W/m² |
About These Parameters
- Value
- The heat flux density value you want to convert, expressed in the "From" unit. Accepts decimals.
- From Unit
- The unit your input value is currently measured in — a solar spec sheet's W/m², or a US HVAC load calculation's Btu/(h·ft²).
- To Unit
- The unit you want the result converted into. Use the swap button to flip From and To instantly.
How Heat Flux Density Conversion Works
The Formula
Every unit here is defined by a fixed multiplier relative to watts per square meter. To convert a value from one unit to another:
result = value × (factor of "From" unit ÷ factor of "To" unit)
For Watt per Square Meter → Calorie (IT) per Second per Square Centimeter: multiply by 2.38846E-05. For example, 1 W/m² × 2.38846E-05 = 2.38846E-05 cal/(s·cm²).
Solar Irradiance
"1,000 W/m²" is the standard reference solar irradiance used to rate solar panels under laboratory "Standard Test Conditions" — roughly what a clear, midday sun delivers to a surface facing directly toward it. Real-world irradiance varies constantly with time of day, cloud cover, and season, which is why a panel's rated wattage (measured at that fixed 1,000 W/m² reference) rarely matches its actual output at any given moment.
Heat Flux Density vs. Heat Density
This page's units are all RATES (power per area, e.g. watts per square meter) — how fast energy is moving right now. The site's separate Heat Density Converter covers the cumulative TOTAL (energy per area, e.g. joules per square meter) — how much energy has landed altogether over some period. Multiplying a heat flux density by a duration of time gives you a heat density, the same relationship speed has to distance.
Example
A heat flux density of 1 W/m² equals 2.38846E-05 cal/(s·cm²). For scale, peak midday solar irradiance is around 1,000 W/m² (about 317 Btu/(h·ft²)), while a typical well-insulated wall might lose heat at only a few W/m² on a cold day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Calories (IT) per Second per Square Centimeter are in 1 Watt per Square Meter?
1 Watt per Square Meter (W/m²) equals exactly 2.38846E-05 Calories (IT) per Second per Square Centimeter (cal/(s·cm²)).
Why does this page have so many units compared to other converters?
Heat flux density is used across an unusually wide range of fields — solar engineering, HVAC, laser physics, industrial heating, and classical thermodynamics — each of which historically settled on its own preferred combination of energy, time, and area units, so this page collects the most commonly seen ones from each.
What's a normal heat flux density value for solar panels?
Solar panels are rated at a standard 1,000 W/m² reference irradiance, but real-world sunlight typically ranges from near 0 (night, heavy cloud) up to around 1,000-1,100 W/m² at clear-sky, high-sun conditions, varying with latitude, season, and time of day.
How accurate are these conversions?
Every conversion factor used here is the exact, internationally recognized relationship between the underlying power, energy, and area units — results are limited only by floating-point display precision, not by rounded conversion constants.