1 calorie equals 0.001 kcal.
A calorie is a unit of energy measurement, and when converted to kilocalories, or kcal, it becomes a larger, more practical value for food energy. Since 1 kcal is 1000 calories, the conversion is straightforward and simple.
Calorie to Kcal Conversion
Result in kcal:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert calories to kilocalories is simple: divide the number of calories by 1000, because 1 kcal equals 1000 calories. This works because it’s based on the metric system scaling, making conversions easy. For example, 500 calories divided by 1000 equals 0.5 kcal.
Conversion Example
- Convert 2 calories:
- Step 1: Write down the calories: 2
- Step 2: Divide by 1000: 2 / 1000
- Step 3: Result is 0.002 kcal
- Convert 10 calories:
- Step 1: Write down: 10
- Step 2: Divide by 1000: 10 / 1000
- Result: 0.01 kcal
- Convert 50 calories:
- Step 1: Write down: 50
- Step 2: Divide by 1000: 50 / 1000
- Result: 0.05 kcal
Conversion Chart
| Calories | Kcal |
|---|---|
| -24.0 | -0.024 |
| -22.0 | -0.022 |
| -20.0 | -0.02 |
| -18.0 | -0.018 |
| -16.0 | -0.016 |
| -14.0 | -0.014 |
| -12.0 | -0.012 |
| -10.0 | -0.01 |
| -8.0 | -0.008 |
| -6.0 | -0.006 |
| -4.0 | -0.004 |
| -2.0 | -0.002 |
| 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2.0 | 0.002 |
| 4.0 | 0.004 |
| 6.0 | 0.006 |
| 8.0 | 0.008 |
| 10.0 | 0.01 |
| 12.0 | 0.012 |
| 14.0 | 0.014 |
| 16.0 | 0.016 |
| 18.0 | 0.018 |
| 20.0 | 0.02 |
| 22.0 | 0.022 |
| 24.0 | 0.024 |
| 26.0 | 0.026 |
This table helps to quickly find the kcal equivalent for a range of calorie values from -24 to 26, aiding in quick reference or comparison.
Related Conversion Questions
- How many kcal is 1 calorie equivalent to?
- What is the calorie to kcal ratio for food energy?
- How do I convert 1 calorie to kilocalories for diet calculations?
- Is 1 calorie the same as 0.001 kcal?
- What does 1 calorie represent in kcal?
- How many kcal are in 1 calorie of energy?
- Why is the conversion from calorie to kcal important?
Conversion Definitions
A calorie is a unit measuring heat energy, formally known as the small calorie, used mainly in chemistry and physics, equal to 4.184 joules. A kcal, or kilocalorie, equals 1000 calories, and is the energy unit used in nutrition for food energy.
Kcal, short for kilocalorie, is a larger energy measurement, representing 1000 small calories. It is used widely in dietary contexts to quantify the energy content of food and beverages, providing a more practical scale for human consumption energy needs.
Conversion FAQs
Why do food labels use kcal instead of calories?
Food labels use kcal because it simplifies understanding energy content, especially since 1 kcal equals 1000 calories. This makes the numbers more manageable, avoiding large figures that can be confusing and helping consumers compare food energy easily.
Can I convert calories to other energy units besides kcal?
Yes, calories can be converted to joules, foot-pounds, or even watt-hours. Each uses a different conversion factor, but kcal remains the standard for nutrition purposes. To convert calories to joules, multiply by 4.184, for example.
Does 1 calorie in physics mean the same as in nutrition?
Not exactly. In physics, a calorie is defined as the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C, called the small calorie. In nutrition, the term usually refers to the kilocalorie, which is 1000 small calories.
How precise is the conversion from calorie to kcal?
The conversion is exact mathematically: dividing calories by 1000 gives kcal. But in real applications, rounding may occur depending on measurement methods, but for practical purposes, the formula is perfectly accurate.
