How to convert calories to joules
Formula: J = cal × 4.184
Worked example: 1,000 cal → 1,000 × 4.184 = 4,184 J
Calories to joules conversion chart
| Calories (cal) | Joules (J) |
|---|---|
| 1 cal | 4.184 J |
| 2 cal | 8.368 J |
| 3 cal | 12.552 J |
| 4 cal | 16.736 J |
| 5 cal | 20.92 J |
| 6 cal | 25.104 J |
| 7 cal | 29.288 J |
| 8 cal | 33.472 J |
| 9 cal | 37.656 J |
| 10 cal | 41.84 J |
| 12 cal | 50.208 J |
| 15 cal | 62.76 J |
| 20 cal | 83.68 J |
| 25 cal | 104.6 J |
| 30 cal | 125.52 J |
| 40 cal | 167.36 J |
| 50 cal | 209.2 J |
| 75 cal | 313.8 J |
| 100 cal | 418.4 J |
| 250 cal | 1,046 J |
| 500 cal | 2,092 J |
| 1,000 cal | 4,184 J |
What is a calorie?
The small calorie, 4.184 joules, is the energy that warms one gram of water by one degree Celsius. In nutrition, the word Calorie with a capital C, as on US food labels, actually means a kilocalorie, 1,000 times more.
What is a joule?
The joule is the SI unit of energy: the work done by a force of one newton over one meter, or one watt for one second. It is small; lifting an apple about one meter takes roughly one joule.