Calories to Kilowatt Hours
An instant calories-to-kilowatt hours converter, with the formula and a reference table below.
| Calories | Kilowatt Hours |
|---|---|
| 1 cal | 1.16222e-06 kWh |
| 2 cal | 2.32444e-06 kWh |
| 3 cal | 3.48667e-06 kWh |
| 5 cal | 5.81111e-06 kWh |
| 10 cal | 1.16222e-05 kWh |
| 25 cal | 2.90556e-05 kWh |
| 50 cal | 5.81111e-05 kWh |
| 100 cal | 0.000116 kWh |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Calories field.
- The Kilowatt Hours figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Kilowatt Hours field converts back to Calories the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Calories to Kilowatt Hours formula
The factor from calories to kilowatt hours is 1.16222222e-06.
kWh = cal × 1.16222222e-06
Why this factor: the calorie and the kilowatt-hour are both defined against the joule, so dividing one definition by the other gives 1.16222222e-06 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 1.16222222e-06 — or use the Kilowatt Hours to Calories converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Start with 500 cal. Multiply by 1.16222222e-06 to get 0.000581 kWh.
500 cal × 1.16222222e-06 = 0.000581 kWh
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 kilowatt-hour?
A kilowatt-hour is the standard billing unit for electricity — one kilowatt drawn for one hour.
Definition: Exactly 3.6 megajoules.
Where it is used: Electricity bills worldwide, solar generation figures, and electric vehicle battery capacity.
Calories vs Kilowatt Hours
The calorie and the kilowatt-hour belong to the same family of units, so converting between them is usually a matter of shifting a decimal point or applying a small whole-number factor.
Frequently asked questions
How many kilowatt hours are in a calorie?
One calorie equals 1.16222222e-06 kilowatt hours.
What is the formula to convert calories to kilowatt hours?
Multiply the number of calories by 1.16222222e-06. To reverse it, divide by 1.16222222e-06 instead.
How do I convert kilowatt hours back to calories?
Divide by 1.16222222e-06, which is the same as multiplying by 860420.65.
How many kilowatt hours are in 10 calories?
10 cal works out to 1.16222e-05 kWh.
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.