How many calories are in 1 kilocalorie?

1 kcal equals 1000 cal. This is an exact conversion factor defined by NIST.

How do I convert kilocalories to calories?

Multiply the value in kcal by the conversion factor. For example, 10 kcal = 10000 cal. Use our calculator above for instant results.

Is the kilocalories to calories conversion exact?

Yes, this conversion is mathematically exact based on the international definition of these units (NIST SP 811).

Can I convert kilocalories to calories offline?

Yes! OmniConvert runs entirely in your browser — no internet connection needed after the page loads. Your data never leaves your device, ensuring complete privacy.

What is the difference between kilocalories and calories?

Kilocalories (kcal) and Calories (cal) are both units of energy but belong to different measurement systems. 1 kcal = 1000 cal. Use the converter above to switch between them instantly.

Kilocalories to Calories (kcal → cal) — Free Online Converter

kcal → cal Reference Table

kcal	cal
0.001 kcal	1 cal
0.002 kcal	2 cal
0.003 kcal	3 cal
0.004 kcal	4 cal
0.005 kcal	5 cal
0.006 kcal	6 cal
0.007 kcal	7 cal
0.008 kcal	8 cal
0.009 kcal	9 cal
0.01 kcal	10 cal
0.02 kcal	20 cal
0.03 kcal	30 cal
0.04 kcal	40 cal
0.05 kcal	50 cal
0.06 kcal	60 cal
0.07 kcal	70 cal
0.08 kcal	80 cal
0.09 kcal	90 cal
0.1 kcal	100 cal
0.2 kcal	200 cal
0.3 kcal	300 cal
0.4 kcal	400 cal
0.5 kcal	500 cal
0.6 kcal	600 cal
0.7 kcal	700 cal
0.8 kcal	800 cal
0.9 kcal	900 cal
1 kcal	1000 cal
1.5 kcal	1500 cal
2 kcal	2000 cal
2.5 kcal	2500 cal
3 kcal	3000 cal
3.5 kcal	3500 cal
4 kcal	4000 cal
4.5 kcal	4500 cal
5 kcal	5000 cal
5.5 kcal	5500 cal
6 kcal	6000 cal
6.5 kcal	6500 cal
7 kcal	7000 cal
7.5 kcal	7500 cal
8 kcal	8000 cal
8.5 kcal	8500 cal
9 kcal	9000 cal
9.5 kcal	9500 cal
10 kcal	10000 cal
11 kcal	11000 cal
12 kcal	12000 cal
13 kcal	13000 cal
14 kcal	14000 cal
15 kcal	15000 cal
16 kcal	16000 cal
17 kcal	17000 cal
18 kcal	18000 cal
19 kcal	19000 cal
20 kcal	20000 cal
25 kcal	25000 cal
30 kcal	30000 cal
35 kcal	35000 cal
40 kcal	40000 cal
45 kcal	45000 cal
50 kcal	50000 cal
55 kcal	55000 cal
60 kcal	60000 cal
65 kcal	65000 cal
70 kcal	70000 cal
75 kcal	75000 cal
80 kcal	80000 cal
85 kcal	85000 cal
90 kcal	90000 cal
95 kcal	95000 cal
100 kcal	100000 cal
120 kcal	120000 cal
125 kcal	125000 cal
130 kcal	130000 cal
140 kcal	140000 cal
150 kcal	150000 cal
160 kcal	160000 cal
175 kcal	175000 cal
180 kcal	180000 cal
200 kcal	200000 cal
225 kcal	225000 cal
250 kcal	250000 cal
275 kcal	275000 cal
300 kcal	300000 cal
350 kcal	350000 cal
400 kcal	400000 cal
450 kcal	450000 cal
500 kcal	500000 cal
600 kcal	600000 cal
700 kcal	700000 cal
750 kcal	750000 cal
800 kcal	800000 cal
900 kcal	900000 cal
1000 kcal	1000000 cal
1200 kcal	1200000 cal
1250 kcal	1250000 cal
1500 kcal	1500000 cal
1750 kcal	1750000 cal
2000 kcal	2000000 cal
2500 kcal	2500000 cal
3000 kcal	3000000 cal
4000 kcal	4000000 cal
4500 kcal	4500000 cal
5000 kcal	5000000 cal
6000 kcal	6000000 cal
7000 kcal	7000000 cal
7500 kcal	7500000 cal
8000 kcal	8000000 cal
9000 kcal	9000000 cal
10000 kcal	10000000 cal
15000 kcal	15000000 cal
20000 kcal	20000000 cal
25000 kcal	25000000 cal
50000 kcal	50000000 cal
75000 kcal	75000000 cal
100000 kcal	100000000 cal

Values based on NIST SP 811 conversion factors

Why Convert Kilocalories to Calories?

Converting between kilocalories (kcal) and calories (cal) is one of the most common energy conversions. Whether for engineering, cooking, travel, or science, knowing how to quickly convert kcal to cal saves time and prevents errors.

Energy conversions from kcal to cal are crucial for dietitians, physicists, and engineers. In nutrition, understanding the link between calories and joules helps individuals manage their diet and energy intake effectively. In the power sector, converting between kilowatt-hours and British Thermal Units (BTU) is necessary for sizing heating and cooling systems for homes and offices. Physicists rely on precise energy unit conversions to calculate work, heat, and thermodynamic processes. Whether tracking fitness goals or analyzing home energy bills, accurate conversion empowers users to make better health and financial decisions.

How to Convert Kilocalories to Calories

To convert kilocalories to calories, use the following formula:

cal = kcal × 1000

Example: 1 kcal = 1000 cal

For example, 5 kcal = 5000 cal, 10 kcal = 10000 cal, and 100 kcal = 100000 cal. For larger values, 1000 kcal = 1000000 cal. Conversely, 1 cal = 0.001 kcal. Our calculator above performs this conversion instantly with full precision — no rounding errors.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Calorie confusion: Food 'Calories' are actually kilocalories (kcal).
Joule scale: 1 kWh is 3.6 million Joules (orders of magnitude difference).
Power vs Energy: mixing up Watts (power) and Watt-hours (energy).

Pro Tips

Food labels: Learn to read kcal; average adult needs ~2000 kcal/day.
Battery capacity: Wh = V * Ah. Useful for comparing different voltage batteries.
Efficiency: Energy cannot be created/destroyed, only converted (with some loss as heat).

What is a Kilocalorie?

A unit of energy equal to 1,000 calories ("Calorie").

Widely used for measuring food energy content.

What is a Calorie?

The calorie (cal) is a pre-SI unit of energy. Historically defined as the heat needed to raise 1 gram of water by 1°C. Food calories are actually kilocalories (kcal).

Calories (specifically kilocalories) are universally used in nutrition to measure the energy content of food and the energy expenditure of physical activity.

Kilocalories → Calories

Kilocalories to Calories Formula