1 calorie equals 0.001 kilocalorie.
A calorie is much smaller than a kilocalorie, so when converting 1 calorie to kilocalorie, the value becomes 0.001. This happens because 1 kilocalorie is exactly 1000 calories, making the calorie unit a thousand times smaller.
Conversion Tool
Result in kilocalorie:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert calorie to kilocalorie is simple: divide the calorie value by 1000.
This works because 1 kilocalorie equals 1000 calories. So if you have a value in calories, dividing it by 1000 scales it down to kilocalories. For example, converting 2500 calories to kilocalories:
- Start with 2500 calories.
- Divide 2500 by 1000.
- 2500 ÷ 1000 = 2.5 kilocalories.
Conversion Example
- Convert 500 calories to kilocalories:
- Take 500 calories.
- Divide by 1000.
- 500 ÷ 1000 = 0.5 kilocalories.
- Convert 1200 calories to kilocalories:
- Start with 1200 calories.
- Divide 1200 by 1000.
- 1200 ÷ 1000 = 1.2 kilocalories.
- Convert 75 calories to kilocalories:
- 75 calories to convert.
- 75 ÷ 1000 = 0.075 kilocalories.
- Convert 3500 calories to kilocalories:
- 3500 calories given.
- 3500 ÷ 1000 = 3.5 kilocalories.
Conversion Chart
The chart below lists values from -24.0 to 26.0 calories and their equivalent in kilocalories. You can find any calorie value in the left column, and the right column shows the converted kilocalorie value by dividing the calorie number by 1000.
Calorie | Kilocalorie |
---|---|
-24.0 | -0.024 |
-20.0 | -0.020 |
-16.0 | -0.016 |
-12.0 | -0.012 |
-8.0 | -0.008 |
-4.0 | -0.004 |
0.0 | 0.000 |
4.0 | 0.004 |
8.0 | 0.008 |
12.0 | 0.012 |
16.0 | 0.016 |
20.0 | 0.020 |
24.0 | 0.024 |
26.0 | 0.026 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How many kilocalories are in 1 calorie exactly?
- What is the conversion factor from calorie to kilocalorie for 1 unit?
- Is 1 calorie equal to 0.001 kilocalories or different?
- How to convert 1 calorie into kilocalories manually?
- Does 1 calorie convert directly to a smaller kilocalorie number?
- Can I convert 1 calorie to kilocalorie using a simple formula?
- What is the equivalent of 1 calorie in kilocalories for dietary calculations?
Conversion Definitions
Calorie: A calorie is a unit of energy measurement in many scientific fields, representing the energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. It is often used in nutrition but much smaller than a kilocalorie, making it less common for food labeling.
Kilocalorie: Kilocalorie, often called “Calorie” in food contexts, is equal to 1000 calories. It measures energy content in food and exercise, representing the energy required to heat one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. It is the standard unit for expressing dietary energy.
Conversion FAQs
Why does converting 1 calorie to kilocalorie result in a decimal less than one?
Because 1 kilocalorie equals 1000 calories, converting a single calorie to kilocalorie means dividing by 1000. This division scales down the value to 0.001, which is a small decimal rather than a whole number.
Can I use this conversion for both dietary and scientific energy measurements?
Yes, the conversion between calorie and kilocalorie applies universally across scientific and dietary contexts. The units differ by a factor of 1000, so converting is just changing the scale of measurement.
Is there any difference between “calorie” and “Calorie” in food labels?
On food labels, “Calorie” with a capital C is actually a kilocalorie. So 1 Calorie equals 1000 calories. This is why converting 1 calorie to kilocalorie results in a much smaller number.
Why does the conversion formula only require division by 1000?
The calorie and kilocalorie differ by a factor of 1000 by definition. Kilocalorie is 1000 times larger unit, so converting smaller calories to kilocalories just need division by 1000, no other operations needed.
Can negative calorie values be converted the same way?
Yes, negative values represent energy loss or deficit and can be converted by dividing by 1000 as well. The conversion formula treats negative and positive values equally.