A kilocalorie (kcal) equals 1,000 small calories and is the unit behind the food "Calorie" shown on nutrition labels.
Kilocalories to Calories
Convert Kilocalorie (kcal) to Calorie (cal) instantly with an exact formula, conversion table, and FAQ.
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Convert kilocalories (kcal) to calories (cal) instantly with formula, conversion table, and FAQ.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
A (small) calorie is a thermochemical unit of heat energy equal to 4.184 joules, historically the energy needed to raise 1 gram of water by 1°C.
cal = kcal × 1000
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Formula
cal = kcal × 1000
kcal = cal × 0.001
Conversion table
| 1 kcal | 1000 cal |
| 5 kcal | 5000 cal |
| 10 kcal | 10000 cal |
| 20 kcal | 20000 cal |
| 50 kcal | 50000 cal |
| 100 kcal | 100000 cal |
| 500 kcal | 500000 cal |
| 1000 kcal | 1.000000e+06 cal |
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How the formula works
Both kilocalorie and calorie measure the same physical quantity, so converting between them is a single multiplication. Multiply a value in kilocalories by 1000 to get calories. To reverse the conversion, multiply a calorie value by 0.001 to get back to kilocalories.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kilocalorie (kcal)?
A kilocalorie (kcal) equals 1,000 small calories and is the unit behind the food "Calorie" shown on nutrition labels.
What is Calorie (cal)?
A (small) calorie is a thermochemical unit of heat energy equal to 4.184 joules, historically the energy needed to raise 1 gram of water by 1°C.
How do I convert kilocalories to calories?
Multiply the kilocalorie value by 1000 to get the equivalent in calories. For example, 5 kcal × 1000 = 5000 cal.
Is this conversion exact?
Yes. Both units are defined against the SI base unit for this dimension, so the factor 1000 is an exact, non-rounded value.
Can I convert calories back to kilocalories?
Yes. Divide the calorie value by 1000, or multiply it by 0.001, to get kilocalories.
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About converting kilocalories to calories
A kilocalorie (kcal) equals 1,000 small calories and is the unit behind the food "Calorie" shown on nutrition labels. A (small) calorie is a thermochemical unit of heat energy equal to 4.184 joules, historically the energy needed to raise 1 gram of water by 1°C.
Use this calculator to move between kilocalories and calories accurately for homework, engineering, billing, or everyday energy calculations. The Universal Converter uses exact unit factors, so results stay consistent across the site.