Kilocalories to Calories
Convert kilocalories to calories instantly — one kilocalorie is 1000 calories.
| Kilocalories | Calories |
|---|---|
| 1 kcal | 1000 cal |
| 2 kcal | 2000 cal |
| 3 kcal | 3000 cal |
| 5 kcal | 5000 cal |
| 10 kcal | 10000 cal |
| 25 kcal | 25000 cal |
| 50 kcal | 50000 cal |
| 100 kcal | 100000 cal |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Kilocalories field.
- The Calories figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Calories field converts back to Kilocalories the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Kilocalories to Calories formula
The factor from kilocalories to calories is 1000.
cal = kcal × 1000
Put another way, one kilocalorie is exactly 1,000 calories.
Why this factor: the kilocalorie and the calorie are both defined against the joule, so dividing one definition by the other gives 1000 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 1000 — or use the Calories to Kilocalories converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Take 100 kcal and multiply by the factor 1000: the result is 100000 cal.
100 kcal × 1000 = 100000 cal
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a kilocalorie?
A kilocalorie is 1,000 calories, and is what food labeling calls a 'Calorie'.
Definition: Exactly 4,184 joules.
Where it is used: Nutrition and dietary energy in the US and much of the world, and metabolic measurements.
Worth knowing: Written with a capital C ('Calorie') or as 'kcal' on labels. This is the unit meant by everyday talk about counting calories.
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.
Kilocalories vs Calories
The kilocalorie and the calorie 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 calories are in a kilocalorie?
One kilocalorie equals 1000 calories.
What is the formula to convert kilocalories to calories?
Multiply the number of kilocalories by 1000. To reverse it, divide by 1000 instead.
How do I convert calories back to kilocalories?
Divide by 1000, which is the same as multiplying by 0.001.
How many calories are in 10 kilocalories?
10 kcal works out to 10000 cal.
Is there anything to watch out for with kilocalories?
Written with a capital C ('Calorie') or as 'kcal' on labels. This is the unit meant by everyday talk about counting calories.
How is the kilocalorie defined?
Exactly 4,184 joules.