Kcal vs. Cal: What’s the Difference?

A calorie is a unit of energy.

Calories measure the amount of energy in a food or drink item. We also use calories to refer to the amount of energy used during exercise. Understanding calories can help you sustain a balanced diet to keep your weight under control and help you maintain good overall health.

Many monitor the number of calories they consume daily and how many they burn. Calorie tracking is a common strategy for weight loss as it helps you create a calorie deficit, whereby you burn more calories than you take in. A calorie deficit is necessary to lose weight.

Keep reading as we discuss the difference between calories and kilocalories.

Large calories are written as Cal – with a capital C. One large calorie is the same amount of energy as one kilocalorie (kcal). The kilocalorie is known as the food calorie or dietary calorie because it refers to the calories present in food. It estimates the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.

As mentioned previously, the word “cal” refers to small calories, which estimate the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius (1°C). One kilocalorie is equal to 1,000 small calories. Generally, people only use the term small calorie in the science world.

In the simplest terms, the equation is:

1Cal or 1kcal = 1,000cal

To avoid confusion, you can usually consider calories and kilocalories as the same thing when discussing the nutritional labels of foods. Furthermore, you might come across labels that list the calorie content as kilojoules (kJ). One kilocalorie equals 4.18 kilojoules.

Kcal vs. Cal 

The table below summarizes the key similarities and differences between kcal and cal.

Type	kcal	cal
Size	1	1,000
Energy	The heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.	The heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C.
Key characteristics	Kcal is known as the food calorie and is displayed on food labels.	cal (with a lowercase C) is not used on food labels

Where Are Cal and Kcal Used?

Reading labels can get a little tricky. Nutrition labels in different countries tend to display food calories in different values. You might come across calories (cal), kilocalories (kcal), kilojoules (kJ), or a mix of these terms. All of the terms measure energy content, but the values differ.

Below, you can find the preferred food energy label for the following countries:

The United States and Canada: calories

European Union (EU): kilocalories and kilojoules

Australia and New Zealand: kilocalories and kilojoules

China: kilojoules

Manufacturers are required to add labels on food packages that show the nutritional facts. These food labels list the number of calories per serving or a certain weight in the food item. They also include the micro and macro content, including carbs, fat, protein, and fiber.

The information is crucial as it allows you to understand how healthy a particular food or beverage is before purchase. It helps you keep track of your calories and macros while ensuring you accommodate for other factors, such as food allergies and intolerances.

FAQs

Conclusion

Both calories and kilocalories (cal and kcal) measure energy concerning nutrition and exercise. The same goes for kJ, another measurement of calories that uses an alternative value depending on where you live. This is due to food labeling laws in different countries.

Keeping your regular calorie intake in check can help you maintain or alter your body weight.