Kilojoules to Kilocalories (food Calories) Converter

1 kJ equals 0.23900574 kcal, and 1 kcal equals 4.184 kJ. Enter a value in either box to convert kilojoules to kilocalories (food calories) and back. Formula: joules = value x unit factor (1 cal = 4.184 J, 1 Wh = 3,600 J, 1 BTU(IT) = 1,055.05585262 J, 1 eV = 1.602176634e-19 J).

· CalcFlow Editorial

1 kJ = 0.23900574 kcal

Results shown are estimates for informational purposes only. Nothing on CalcFlow is financial, tax, legal, or medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important decisions.

Kilojoules to Kilocalories (food Calories) Conversion Table

KilojoulesKilocalories (food Calories)
1 kJ0.23900574 kcal
2 kJ0.47801147 kcal
5 kJ1.1950287 kcal
10 kJ2.3900574 kcal
50 kJ11.950287 kcal
100 kJ23.900574 kcal
500 kJ119.50287 kcal
1,000 kJ239.00574 kcal
2,000 kJ478.01147 kcal

Kilocalories (food Calories) to Kilojoules Conversion Table

Kilocalories (food Calories)Kilojoules
1 kcal4.184 kJ
2 kcal8.368 kJ
5 kcal20.92 kJ
10 kcal41.84 kJ
50 kcal209.2 kJ
100 kcal418.4 kJ
500 kcal2,092 kJ
1,000 kcal4,184 kJ
2,000 kcal8,368 kJ

Worked example: 10 kJ = 2.3900574 kcal. A 2,000 kcal day is 2,000 x 4.184 = 8,368 kJ. Running a 1.5 kW heater for 2 hours uses 3 kWh, which is 10.8 MJ.

Need other units? Open the full Energy Converter.

Popular Energy Conversions

Kilocalories (food Calories) to KilojoulesKilowatt-hours to MegajoulesKilowatt-hours to BTU (International Table)BTU (International Table) to Kilowatt-hours

Formula

joules = value x unit factor (1 cal = 4.184 J, 1 Wh = 3,600 J, 1 BTU(IT) = 1,055.05585262 J, 1 eV = 1.602176634e-19 J)

Understanding Energy Conversion

Energy is measured in joules in the SI system. Electricity bills use kilowatt-hours, nutrition labels use kilocalories (called Calories on food packaging), and heating equipment is often rated in BTU. The thermochemical calorie is exactly 4.184 joules, so one food Calorie (a kilocalorie) is 4,184 joules. The electronvolt, now exactly defined, is used for particles and atoms.

Tips and Best Practices

  • 1One kilowatt-hour equals 3.6 megajoules, or about 3,412 BTU.
  • 2A food Calorie with a capital C is a kilocalorie, or 4.184 kJ.
  • 3Divide kilojoules by 4.184 to get kilocalories.

Real-World Example

A 2,000 kcal day is 2,000 x 4.184 = 8,368 kJ. Running a 1.5 kW heater for 2 hours uses 3 kWh, which is 10.8 MJ.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Mixing calories (cal) with kilocalories (kcal); there is a factor of 1,000.
  • Confusing kilowatts (power) with kilowatt-hours (energy).
  • Using a different BTU definition than the one you are comparing with; several exist.

How to Use

  1. Type a number in the Kilojoules box.
  2. The Kilocalories (food Calories) result appears instantly; you can also edit the Kilocalories (food Calories) box to convert backwards.
  3. Use the swap button to reverse the direction and Copy result to copy the answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

How many kilocalories (food calories) are in 1 kJ?

1 kJ equals 0.23900574 kcal.
Q

How many kilojoules are in 1 kcal?

1 kcal equals 4.184 kJ.
Q

What is the formula to convert kilojoules to kilocalories (food calories)?

joules = value x unit factor (1 cal = 4.184 J, 1 Wh = 3,600 J, 1 BTU(IT) = 1,055.05585262 J, 1 eV = 1.602176634e-19 J).
Q

How many BTU are in a kWh?

One kilowatt-hour is about 3,412.14 BTU (International Table).

Sources: NIST SP 811 (calorie_th = 4.184 J, BTU_IT, foot-pound force); SI Brochure 2019 (elementary charge 1.602176634e-19 C, so 1 eV exact).

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