Calories to Joules Conversion (cal to J)

Calories to Joules Converter

Enter the energy in calories below to convert it to joules.

Result in Joules:

1 cal = 4.184 J

How to Convert Calories to Joules

To convert a measurement in calories to a measurement in joules, multiply the energy by the following conversion ratio: 4.184 joules/calorie.

Since one calorie is equal to 4.184 joules, you can use this simple formula to convert:

joules = calories × 4.184

The energy in joules is equal to the energy in calories multiplied by 4.184.

For example, here's how to convert 5 calories to joules using the formula above.

joules = (5 cal × 4.184) = 20.92 J

How Many Joules Are in a Calorie?

There are 4.184 joules in a calorie, which is why we use this value in the formula above.

1 cal = 4.184 J

Calories and joules are both units used to measure energy. Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.

What Is a Calorie?

One calorie is equal to the heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water from 14.5 to 15.5 degrees Celsius.

When measuring the energy content in foods, the large calorie, or kilocalorie is used, but it's often still just called a "calorie." When both the calorie and large calorie are used in the same context it is common to refer to the calorie as a "small calorie."

Calories can be abbreviated as cal; for example, 1 calorie can be written as 1 cal.

Learn more about calories.

What Is a Joule?

The joule is the energy equal to the force on an object of one newton at a distance of one meter.^[1] One joule is equal to the heat energy dissipated by the current of one ampere through one ohm of resistance for one second.

One joule is also equal to the energy needed to move an electric charge of one coulomb through a potential difference of one volt. In addition, one joule is also equal to the one watt-second.

The joule is the SI derived unit for energy in the metric system. Joules can be abbreviated as J; for example, 1 joule can be written as 1 J.

Learn more about joules.

Calorie to Joule Conversion Table

Table showing various calorie measurements converted to joules.
Calories	Joules
1 cal	4.184 J
2 cal	8.368 J
3 cal	12.55 J
4 cal	16.74 J
5 cal	20.92 J
6 cal	25.1 J
7 cal	29.29 J
8 cal	33.47 J
9 cal	37.66 J
10 cal	41.84 J
11 cal	46.02 J
12 cal	50.21 J
13 cal	54.39 J
14 cal	58.58 J
15 cal	62.76 J
16 cal	66.94 J
17 cal	71.13 J
18 cal	75.31 J
19 cal	79.5 J
20 cal	83.68 J
21 cal	87.86 J
22 cal	92.05 J
23 cal	96.23 J
24 cal	100.42 J
25 cal	104.6 J
26 cal	108.78 J
27 cal	112.97 J
28 cal	117.15 J
29 cal	121.34 J
30 cal	125.52 J
31 cal	129.7 J
32 cal	133.89 J
33 cal	138.07 J
34 cal	142.26 J
35 cal	146.44 J
36 cal	150.62 J
37 cal	154.81 J
38 cal	158.99 J
39 cal	163.18 J
40 cal	167.36 J

Table showing various calorie measurements converted to joules.

Calories

Joules

1 cal

4.184 J

2 cal

8.368 J

3 cal

12.55 J

4 cal

16.74 J

5 cal

20.92 J

6 cal

25.1 J

7 cal

29.29 J

8 cal

33.47 J

9 cal

37.66 J

10 cal

41.84 J

11 cal

46.02 J

12 cal

50.21 J

13 cal

54.39 J

14 cal

58.58 J

15 cal

62.76 J

16 cal

66.94 J

17 cal

71.13 J

18 cal

75.31 J

19 cal

79.5 J

20 cal

83.68 J

21 cal

87.86 J

22 cal

92.05 J

23 cal

96.23 J

24 cal

100.42 J

25 cal

104.6 J

26 cal

108.78 J

27 cal

112.97 J

28 cal

117.15 J

29 cal

121.34 J

30 cal

125.52 J

31 cal

129.7 J

32 cal

133.89 J

33 cal

138.07 J

34 cal

142.26 J

35 cal

146.44 J

36 cal

150.62 J

37 cal

154.81 J

38 cal

158.99 J

39 cal

163.18 J

40 cal

167.36 J

References

International Bureau of Weights and Measures, The International System of Units, 9th Edition, 2019, https://www.bipm.org/documents/20126/41483022/SI-Brochure-9-EN.pdf