Home› Conversions› Energy› Calories to Foot-pounds
Energy
Calories to Foot-pounds
Convert calories (cal) to foot-pounds (ft·lb). Type a value below to see the result update instantly. Reference table and formula included.
Calculator
1 cal = 3.086 ft·lb
Calories to Foot-pounds Conversion Table
Common values, ready to copy:
| calories | foot-pounds |
|---|---|
| 1 cal | 3.086 ft·lb |
| 2 cal | 6.1719 ft·lb |
| 5 cal | 15.4298 ft·lb |
| 10 cal | 30.8596 ft·lb |
| 25 cal | 77.1489 ft·lb |
| 50 cal | 154.3 ft·lb |
| 100 cal | 308.6 ft·lb |
| 1,000 cal | 3085.96 ft·lb |
Formula
foot-pounds = calories × 3.08595536e+0
Energy uses the SI joule. Food calories (kcal) are 1,000 small calories: 1 kcal = 4,184 J. 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ = 3,600,000 J. 1 BTU = 1,055.06 J.
About Calories and Foot-pounds
Calories (cal): Originally defined as the energy to raise one gram of water by one degree Celsius; exactly 4.184 J in the modern definition (the thermochemical calorie). Common uses: Scientific work in chemistry, where the small calorie is the natural unit for heat-of-reaction measurements.
Foot-pounds (ft·lb): The work done lifting one pound through one foot against gravity; 1 ft·lb = 1.35582 J. Common uses: Torque specifications in US automotive contexts (lug nuts, bolt torque), and some US engineering work.
How the conversion works
Energy uses the SI joule. Food calories (kcal) are 1,000 small calories: 1 kcal = 4,184 J. 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ = 3,600,000 J. 1 BTU = 1,055.06 J.
The exact relationship is foot-pounds = calories × 3.08595536e+0, which the calculator at the top of this page applies in both directions. Type into either field and the other updates immediately.
When this conversion matters
Converting between calories and foot-pounds comes up wherever energy measurements move between systems — from one country's conventions to another's, from a scientific reference to a practical specification, or from one industry's working unit to another's. The calculator and reference table above cover the everyday range; for unusual values you can type any number into either field.