Calorie to Joule Converter

Energy · unit-converter

Convert Calorie to Joule with fixed input and output units, a step-by-step formula line, and reference tables. Factors are joule-based; food energy uses thermochemical calories. The full Energy Converter also includes MMBtu, toe, thermal kWh, and MeV/GeV.

Calculator

From: Calorie (cal)

To: Joule (j)

About Calorie

The small calorie (cal) is 4.184 J in this converter (thermochemical). Do not confuse with the dietary kilocalorie (kcal).

About Joule

The joule is the SI unit of energy. All other units here are converted through fixed joule equivalents.

How to convert calories to joules

1 calorie is equal to 4.184 joule when both are expressed in joule-equivalents:

1 cal = (4.184 J ÷ 1 J) j = 4.184 j

Thermochemical calorie: 1 cal = 4.184 J exactly in this tool.

Each calorie is defined as 4.184 J and each joule as 1 J in this tool, so one cal equals 4.184 ÷ 1 j = 4.184 j.

Let d(cal) be the numeric amount in Calorie (cal), and d(j) the amount in Joule (j). Then:

d(j) = d(cal) × (4.184 / 1)

Equivalently, divide by how many cal fit into one j (joules per j divided by joules per cal):

d(j) = d(cal) ÷ 0.23900573613767

Or: joule = calorie ÷ 0.23900573613767

Examples

Example #1: Convert 1 cal to joule

1 cal = 1 cal × (4.184/1) j = 4.184 j

1 cal = 1 cal ÷ 0.23900573613767 = 4.184 j

Example #2: Convert 10 cal to joule

10 cal = 10 cal × (4.184/1) j = 41.84 j

10 cal = 10 cal ÷ 0.23900573613767 = 41.84 j

Summary

To convert Calorie to Joule, multiply the value in cal by the ratio of joules per cal divided by joules per j. Equivalently: value_j = value_cal × (4.184 / 1). Numerically, 1 cal equals 4.184 j.

Relationship context

You are converting between food / nutrition energy (calories) (Calories) and SI energy (joules) (Joules). All values are mapped through joules first. The numeric factor is 4.184000e+0.

Conversion tables

Calorie (cal)Joule (j)
0.10.4184
14.184
28.368
312.552
416.736
520.92
625.104
729.288
833.472
937.656
Calorie (cal)Joule (j)
1041.84
2083.68
30125.52
40167.36
50209.2
60251.04
70292.88
80334.72
90376.56
100418.4