Joules to calories (J to cal)
Convert joules to calories. For energy, 1 J equals 0.2390057361 cal.
Converter
J to cal conversion table
| Joules | Calories |
|---|---|
| 1 J | 0.23900574 cal |
| 2 J | 0.47801147 cal |
| 5 J | 1.1950287 cal |
| 10 J | 2.3900574 cal |
| 25 J | 5.9751434 cal |
| 50 J | 11.950287 cal |
| 100 J | 23.900574 cal |
| 1000 J | 239.00574 cal |
Formula
cal = J × 0.2390057361
Worked example
25 J × 0.2390057361 = 5.975143403 cal
Popular conversion examples
Choose an example to open this converter with the value filled in. These are useful examples, not a claim about search rankings.
- 1 J to cal = 0.239006 cal
- 5 J to cal = 1.19503 cal
- 100 J to cal = 23.9006 cal
- 10 J to cal = 2.39006 cal
- 1 cal to J = 4.184 J
- 850 cal to J = 3556.4 J
About joules and calories
Joule (J)
The joule is the SI unit of energy and work: one newton-meter. It is used in physics, engineering and electrical energy ratings.
Calorie (cal)
The thermochemical calorie is exactly 4.184 joules. It is used in chemistry and nutrition. The food Calorie is a kilocalorie.
Both are units of energy; the base unit used internally is J.
Notes
- Calorie = thermochemical calorie (4.184 J); kilocalorie = 1000 cal (the food “Calorie”).
- BTU = International Table BTU (1055.05585262 J). Other BTU definitions (thermochemical, 39 °F, etc.) differ slightly and are not included.
- Energy is not power: a kilowatt-hour is an amount of energy, a kilowatt is a rate.
J to cal FAQs
How do I convert joules to calories?
Multiply the number of joules by 0.2390057361 to get calories. For example, 25 J × 0.2390057361 = 5.97514 cal.
How many calories are in one joule?
1 J = 0.2390057361 cal and 1 cal = 4.184 J. To go the other way, use the calories to joules converter.
How many calories are in 4.184 joules?
4.184 J = 1 cal, rounded to 6 significant digits. Change the value in the converter above for any other amount.
What is the formula for joules to calories?
cal = J × 0.2390057361, where J is the number of joules and cal is the result in calories. The reverse is J = cal × 4.184.
Is the J to cal conversion exact?
The ratio is exact by definition, but its decimal form does not end (0.239005736138… to 12 significant digits). The converter keeps full precision internally and rounds only the displayed answer, which you can set from 4 to 12 significant digits.
What is the difference between joules and calories?
The joule is the SI unit of energy and work: one newton-meter. It is used in physics, engineering and electrical energy ratings. The thermochemical calorie is exactly 4.184 joules. It is used in chemistry and nutrition. The food Calorie is a kilocalorie.
What is the difference between a calorie and a Calorie?
The calorie (cal) is 4.184 joules. The “Calorie” on food labels is a kilocalorie (kcal): 1 kcal = 1,000 cal = 4184 J.
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