How to convert kilocalories (food Calories) to calories
1 kcal = 1,000 cal
1 kcal = 1,000 cal exactly (SI prefix kilo). The food Calorie with a capital C is the kilocalorie, 4.184 kJ exactly (NIST SP 811 B.8; FAO/WHO/UNU).
Examples
- 2,000 kcal = 2,000,000 cal: The FDA's general daily guide, counted in small calories (U.S. FDA)
- 250 kcal = 250,000 cal: a snack labelled in Calories
Kcal to cal chart
| Kilocalories (food Calories) (kcal) | Calories (cal) |
|---|---|
| 1 kcal | 1,000 cal |
| 2 kcal | 2,000 cal |
| 3 kcal | 3,000 cal |
| 4 kcal | 4,000 cal |
| 5 kcal | 5,000 cal |
| 10 kcal | 10,000 cal |
| 15 kcal | 15,000 cal |
| 20 kcal | 20,000 cal |
| 25 kcal | 25,000 cal |
| 50 kcal | 50,000 cal |
| 75 kcal | 75,000 cal |
| 100 kcal | 100,000 cal |
| 250 kcal | 250,000 cal |
| 2,000 kcal | 2,000,000 cal |
Common mistakes
- Multiplying a label’s Calories by 1,000 gives small calories; it does not mean the food has more energy.
- cal and Cal differ only by a capital letter but by 1,000 times in size.
- kcal and kJ are different units: 1 kcal is 4.184 kJ, so kilojoule labels show bigger numbers for the same food.