1 calorie equals 0.001 kilocalories.
A calorie is a smaller unit of energy compared to a kilocalorie. To convert calories to kilocalories, you divide the number of calories by 1000 because 1 kilocalorie contains 1000 calories. This makes kilocalorie a larger measure used commonly in food energy labeling.
Conversion Tool
Result in kilocalorie:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert calorie (cal) to kilocalorie (kcal) is:
kilocalorie = calorie ÷ 1000
This formula works because a kilocalorie is defined as 1000 calories. When you divide the calorie value by 1000, the unit changes to kilocalorie. For example, if you have 500 calories:
- 500 calories ÷ 1000 = 0.5 kilocalories
- So, 500 cal equals 0.5 kcal
This conversion allows to scale down from a smaller unit to a larger one easily.
Conversion Example
- Convert 250 calories to kilocalories:
- Divide 250 by 1000
- 250 ÷ 1000 = 0.25 kilocalories
- Therefore, 250 cal = 0.25 kcal
- Convert 1234 calories to kilocalories:
- Divide 1234 by 1000
- 1234 ÷ 1000 = 1.234 kilocalories
- So, 1234 cal equals 1.234 kcal
- Convert 50 calories to kilocalories:
- Divide 50 by 1000
- 50 ÷ 1000 = 0.05 kilocalories
- Thus, 50 cal = 0.05 kcal
Conversion Chart
This chart shows calorie values from -24.0 to 26.0 converted to kilocalories. To find a kilocalorie value, locate the calorie on the left column then read across to the kilocalorie column.
| Calorie (cal) | Kilocalorie (kcal) |
|---|---|
| -24.0 | -0.0240 |
| -20.0 | -0.0200 |
| -15.0 | -0.0150 |
| -10.0 | -0.0100 |
| -5.0 | -0.0050 |
| 0.0 | 0.0000 |
| 5.0 | 0.0050 |
| 10.0 | 0.0100 |
| 15.0 | 0.0150 |
| 20.0 | 0.0200 |
| 26.0 | 0.0260 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How many kilocalories does 1 calorie equal to?
- What is the formula to convert 1 calorie into kilocalorie?
- Is 1 calorie greater or smaller than 1 kilocalorie?
- How do I convert 1 calorie to kilocalorie using a calculator?
- Can 1 calorie be expressed as a decimal in kilocalories?
- How much energy is 1 calorie in terms of kilocalories?
- Why is 1 calorie equal to 0.001 kilocalories?
Conversion Definitions
Calorie: A calorie is a unit of energy measuring the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. It is often used in food energy content but refers to a small amount of energy, especially compared to the kilocalorie.
Kilocalorie: A kilocalorie equals 1000 calories and is commonly used in nutrition to represent the energy content in food. It is the amount of heat needed to raise 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius, making it a much larger unit than the calorie.
Conversion FAQs
Why do nutrition labels use kilocalories instead of calories?
Nutrition labels prefer kilocalories because calorie as a unit is too small for practical use. Most foods contain thousands of calories, so expressing energy in kilocalories simplifies the numbers and makes it easier for consumers to read and understand.
Is converting 1 calorie to kilocalorie always dividing by 1000?
Yes, because the relationship between calorie and kilocalorie is fixed. One kilocalorie contains exactly 1000 calories, so dividing by 1000 converts calories to kilocalories accurately every time, regardless of the context.
Can calorie values be negative when converting to kilocalorie?
Negative calorie values can appear in theoretical calculations or temperature-related measurements but rarely in food energy. When negative values exist, the conversion formula remains the same, dividing by 1000, resulting in negative kilocalorie values.
Does converting from calorie to kilocalorie change the energy amount?
No, conversion changes the unit only, not the actual energy amount. 1 calorie and 0.001 kilocalorie represent the same energy quantity, just expressed in different units to suit measurement scale preferences.
Are calorie and kilocalorie measurements used outside food energy?
Yes, these units appear in physics and chemistry when measuring heat energy, but kilocalorie is more common in dietetics. Calorie in physics can mean small calorie or gram calorie, while kilocalorie often refers to the large calorie used for food.