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Kilojoules to Calories

A kilojoule is 1,000 joules, used on nutrition labels outside the US to state food energy content. A small calorie is the energy to raise 1 gram of water by 1°C, a base unit distinct from the food Calorie (kcal). 1 kJ equals ≈239.006 cal, so converting between them is a matter of multiplying by that fixed factor — type any value into the converter below and both sides update instantly as you type.

Both units belong to energy, measured here against energy's base unit (J) — every other energy unit on this site converts through that same reference point, which is why the table below can also be read as a quick cross-check against nearby values.

Formula

cal = kJ × ≈239.006

kJ = cal × 0.004184

Worked example: 5 kJ × ≈239.006 = ≈1,195.03 cal.

Conversion table

Kilojoule (kJ)Calorie (cal)
1 kJ≈239.006 cal
2 kJ≈478.011 cal
3 kJ≈717.017 cal
5 kJ≈1,195.03 cal
10 kJ≈2,390.06 cal
20 kJ≈4,780.11 cal
25 kJ≈5,975.14 cal
50 kJ≈11,950.3 cal
100 kJ≈23,900.6 cal
250 kJ≈59,751.4 cal
500 kJ≈119,503 cal
1,000 kJ≈239,006 cal

Frequently asked

How many Calories in a kilojoule?
1 kJ equals ≈239.006 cal.
How do I convert Kilojoules to Calories?
Multiply the value in kJ by ≈239.006 to get cal. The converter above does this instantly as you type.
Is the conversion exact?
Yes — Kilojoule and Calorie are both defined by a fixed conversion factor to energy's base unit (J), so the result shown is exact to the precision displayed, not an approximation.

Reverse conversion

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