Convert Calorie (thermochemical) to Joule

One cal equals 4.184 J. This converter allows you to easily convert between Calorie (thermochemical) and Joule in real time.

Formula

cal × 4.184 = J

Example: 1 cal = 4.184 J

What is Calorie (thermochemical)?

The thermochemical calorie is a unit of energy originally defined as the amount needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. It is exactly 4.184 joules. Note that the "Calorie" seen on food labels is actually a kilocalorie (1,000 calories). The calorie has deep roots in calorimetry and chemistry, and although the SI system favors joules, calories remain widely used in everyday discussions of food and diet.

What is Joule?

The joule is the SI unit of energy, named after English physicist James Prescott Joule. One joule equals the work done by a force of one newton moving an object one meter, or the energy used by one watt of power for one second. Food energy labels in many countries show kilojoules alongside calories. In physics, the joule unifies mechanical, thermal, and electrical energy into a single consistent unit.