Calorie to Kilojoule Converter

Energy · unit-converter

Convert Calorie to Kilojoule 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: Kilojoule (kj)

About Calorie

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

About Kilojoule

One kilojoule is 1,000 J. Scientific and engineering contexts often use kJ alongside joules.

How to convert calories to kilojoules

1 calorie is equal to 0.004184 kilojoule when both are expressed in joule-equivalents:

1 cal = (4.184 J ÷ 1,000 J) kj = 0.004184 kj

Each calorie is defined as 4.184 J and each kilojoule as 1,000 J in this tool, so one cal equals 4.184 ÷ 1,000 kj = 0.004184 kj.

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

d(kj) = d(cal) × (4.184 / 1,000)

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

d(kj) = d(cal) ÷ 239.0057361376673

Or: kilojoule = calorie ÷ 239.0057361376673

Examples

Example #1: Convert 1 cal to kilojoule

1 cal = 1 cal × (4.184/1,000) kj = 0.004184 kj

1 cal = 1 cal ÷ 239.0057361376673 = 0.004184 kj

Example #2: Convert 10 cal to kilojoule

10 cal = 10 cal × (4.184/1,000) kj = 0.04184 kj

10 cal = 10 cal ÷ 239.0057361376673 = 0.04184 kj

Summary

To convert Calorie to Kilojoule, multiply the value in cal by the ratio of joules per cal divided by joules per kj. Equivalently: value_kj = value_cal × (4.184 / 1000). Numerically, 1 cal equals 0.004184 kj.

Relationship context

You are converting between food / nutrition energy (calories) (Calories) and SI energy (joules) (Kilojoules). All values are mapped through joules first. The numeric factor is 4.184000e-3.

Conversion tables

Calorie (cal)Kilojoule (kj)
0.10.0004184
10.004184
20.008368
30.012552
40.016736
50.02092
60.025104
70.029288
80.033472
90.037656
Calorie (cal)Kilojoule (kj)
100.04184
200.08368
300.12552
400.16736
500.2092
600.25104
700.29288
800.33472
900.37656
1000.4184