Kilocalorie to Joule Converter
Energy · unit-converter
Convert Kilocalorie 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: Kilocalorie (kcal)
To: Joule (j)
About Kilocalorie
The kilocalorie (kcal) is 1,000 calories in the nutrition sense—often labeled “Calorie” on food packaging. Here 1 kcal = 4,184 J (thermochemical calorie definition used in this tool).
About Joule
The joule is the SI unit of energy. All other units here are converted through fixed joule equivalents.
How to convert kilocalories to joules
1 kilocalorie is equal to 4184 joule when both are expressed in joule-equivalents:
1 kcal = (4,184 J ÷ 1 J) j = 4184 j
Each kilocalorie is defined as 4,184 J and each joule as 1 J in this tool, so one kcal equals 4,184 ÷ 1 j = 4184 j.
Let d(kcal) be the numeric amount in Kilocalorie (kcal), and d(j) the amount in Joule (j). Then:
d(j) = d(kcal) × (4,184 / 1)
Equivalently, divide by how many kcal fit into one j (joules per j divided by joules per kcal):
d(j) = d(kcal) ÷ 0.00023900573614
Or: joule = kilocalorie ÷ 0.00023900573614
Examples
Example #1: Convert 1 kcal to joule
1 kcal = 1 kcal × (4,184/1) j = 4184 j
1 kcal = 1 kcal ÷ 0.00023900573614 = 4184 j
Example #2: Convert 10 kcal to joule
10 kcal = 10 kcal × (4,184/1) j = 41840 j
10 kcal = 10 kcal ÷ 0.00023900573614 = 41840 j
Summary
To convert Kilocalorie to Joule, multiply the value in kcal by the ratio of joules per kcal divided by joules per j. Equivalently: value_j = value_kcal × (4184 / 1). Numerically, 1 kcal equals 4184 j.
Relationship context
You are converting between food / nutrition energy (calories) (Kilocalories) and SI energy (joules) (Joules). All values are mapped through joules first. The numeric factor is 4.184000e+3.
Conversion tables
| Kilocalorie (kcal) | Joule (j) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 418.4 |
| 1 | 4,184 |
| 2 | 8,368 |
| 3 | 12,552 |
| 4 | 16,736 |
| 5 | 20,920 |
| 6 | 25,104 |
| 7 | 29,288 |
| 8 | 33,472 |
| 9 | 37,656 |
| Kilocalorie (kcal) | Joule (j) |
|---|---|
| 10 | 41,840 |
| 20 | 83,680 |
| 30 | 125,520 |
| 40 | 167,360 |
| 50 | 209,200 |
| 60 | 251,040 |
| 70 | 292,880 |
| 80 | 334,720 |
| 90 | 376,560 |
| 100 | 418,400 |