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Energy
Kilocalories to Joules
Convert kilocalories (kcal) to joules (J). Type a value below to see the result update instantly. Reference table and formula included.
Calculator
1 kcal = 4184 J
Kilocalories to Joules Conversion Table
Common values, ready to copy:
| kilocalories | joules |
|---|---|
| 1 kcal | 4184 J |
| 2 kcal | 8368 J |
| 5 kcal | 20920 J |
| 10 kcal | 41840 J |
| 25 kcal | 104600 J |
| 50 kcal | 209200 J |
| 100 kcal | 418400 J |
| 1,000 kcal | 4.1840e+6 J |
Formula
joules = kilocalories × 4184
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 Kilocalories and Joules
Kilocalories (kcal): A thousand small calories, or about 4,184 J; this is what 'calories' means on US food labels. Common uses: Food energy labeling in the US (a 'Calorie' on a US food label is a kilocalorie), nutrition tracking, and exercise energy expenditure.
Joules (J): The SI unit of energy; named for James Prescott Joule, whose 19th-century experiments established the equivalence of mechanical work and heat. Common uses: Physics calculations, food calorie labeling in metric countries (kilojoules), battery capacity, and chemistry.
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 joules = kilocalories × 4184, 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 kilocalories and joules 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.