Calories to Foot Pounds
Convert calories to foot pounds instantly — one calorie is 3.08596 foot pounds.
| Calories | Foot Pounds |
|---|---|
| 1 cal | 3.08596 ft·lb |
| 2 cal | 6.17192 ft·lb |
| 3 cal | 9.25788 ft·lb |
| 5 cal | 15.4298 ft·lb |
| 10 cal | 30.8596 ft·lb |
| 25 cal | 77.149001 ft·lb |
| 50 cal | 154.298002 ft·lb |
| 100 cal | 308.596003 ft·lb |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Calories field.
- The Foot Pounds figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Foot Pounds field converts back to Calories the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Calories to Foot Pounds formula
The factor from calories to foot pounds is 3.08596003.
ft·lb = cal × 3.08596003
Why this factor: the calorie and the foot-pound are both defined against the joule, so dividing one definition by the other gives 3.08596003 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 3.08596003 — or use the Foot Pounds to Calories converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Take 2000 cal and multiply by the factor 3.08596003: the result is 6171.920065 ft·lb.
2000 cal × 3.08596003 = 6171.920065 ft·lb
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a calorie?
A calorie is the energy needed to warm one gram of water by one degree Celsius.
Definition: The thermochemical calorie is defined as exactly 4.184 joules.
Where it is used: Chemistry and physics literature, and older engineering references.
Worth knowing: The 'calories' on a nutrition label are actually kilocalories — 1,000 of these. A 500-Calorie meal is 500 kcal, or about 2.1 million joules.
What is a foot-pound?
A foot-pound is the work done by one pound-force acting through one foot.
Definition: About 1.3558179 joules.
Where it is used: US mechanical work and torque figures, fastener specifications, and firearm muzzle energy.
Worth knowing: As a torque unit it is properly 'pound-foot' (lbf·ft); as an energy unit it is 'foot-pound'. The numbers coincide but the quantities differ.
Calories vs Foot Pounds
The calorie is a specialized unit while the foot-pound is a US customary unit. That is why the factor between them is not a round number: the two systems were defined independently and only later tied together by exact agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How many foot pounds are in a calorie?
One calorie equals 3.08596003 foot pounds.
What is the formula to convert calories to foot pounds?
Multiply the number of calories by 3.08596003. To reverse it, divide by 3.08596003 instead.
How do I convert foot pounds back to calories?
Divide by 3.08596003, which is the same as multiplying by 0.324048267.
How many foot pounds are in 10 calories?
10 cal works out to 30.8596 ft·lb.
Is there anything to watch out for with calories?
The 'calories' on a nutrition label are actually kilocalories — 1,000 of these. A 500-Calorie meal is 500 kcal, or about 2.1 million joules.
How is the calorie defined?
The thermochemical calorie is defined as exactly 4.184 joules.