Convert Kilocalories to Kilojoules
Convert Kilocalories (kcal) to Kilojoules (kJ) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
kJ = kcal × 4.184
About Kilocalories
A kilocalorie (kcal) - the food Calorie (capital C) on US and Canadian nutrition labels - is exactly 4,184 J. WHO recommends ~2,000-2,500 kcal/day for adults. Energy density of nutrients: fat 9 kcal/g, carbohydrate 4 kcal/g, protein 4 kcal/g, ethanol 7 kcal/g. Running at 10 km/h burns ~600-800 kcal/h. Standard free energy of ATP hydrolysis is approximately −7.3 kcal/mol (−30.5 kJ/mol). Pre-SI thermodynamic tables in the US and Japan use kcal/mol for reaction enthalpies. 1 kcal = 4,184 J = 4.184 kJ = 3.968 BTU = 1.163 Wh.
About Kilojoules
A kilojoule (kJ) is exactly 1,000 J and is the standard energy unit for food and physical chemistry. EU, Australian, and NZ food labels are mandatory in kJ: recommended adult intake is ~8,400 kJ/day. Bond dissociation energies: C-H bond 413 kJ/mol; C=C double bond 614 kJ/mol; N≡N triple bond 945 kJ/mol. Specific heat of water: 4.184 kJ/(kg·K). A cyclist riding at 150 W for one hour expends 540 kJ. Charpy and Izod impact toughness tests record results in J and kJ. 1 kJ = 1,000 J = 239.0 cal = 0.94782 BTU = 0.27778 Wh.
Quick Reference Table
| Kilocalories (kcal) | Kilojoules (kJ) |
|---|---|
| 1 kcal | 4.184 kJ |
| 2 kcal | 8.368 kJ |
| 5 kcal | 20.92 kJ |
| 10 kcal | 41.84 kJ |
| 25 kcal | 104.6 kJ |
| 50 kcal | 209.2 kJ |
| 100 kcal | 418.4 kJ |