How to convert kilojoules to kilocalories
- Take the value in kilojoules.
- Use the formula kilocalories = kilojoules ÷ 4.184.
- For example, 8,700 kJ is 2,079.35 kcal.
About kilojoules and kilocalories
Divide kilojoules by 4.184 to get kilocalories, the food Calories most diet apps count. Dividing by 4.2 is a good mental shortcut and lands within 0.4% of the exact answer.
Food labels in Australia and New Zealand must give energy in kilojoules, and EU labels show kJ first. If you track your intake in Calories, every one of those numbers needs dividing by 4.184.
Examples
- 8,700 kJ (the average adult daily intake used on Australian labels) is 2,079.35 kcal
- 8,400 kJ (the EU reference intake for an adult) is 2,007.65 kcal
- 440 kJ (a medium banana, roughly) is 105.16 kcal
- 4.18 kJ (one food Calorie) is 1 kcal
Kilojoules to kilocalories chart
| Kilojoules (kJ) | Kilocalories (kcal) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.239 |
| 4.18 | 1 |
| 10 | 2.39 |
| 50 | 11.95 |
| 100 | 23.9 |
| 200 | 47.8 |
| 250 | 59.75 |
| 500 | 119.5 |
| 750 | 179.25 |
| Kilojoules (kJ) | Kilocalories (kcal) |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | 239.01 |
| 1,500 | 358.51 |
| 2,000 | 478.01 |
| 2,500 | 597.51 |
| 5,000 | 1,195.03 |
| 8,400 | 2,007.65 |
| 8,700 | 2,079.35 |
| 10,000 | 2,390.06 |