Convert Calories to Ergs
1 calorie (cal) equals 41840000 ergs (erg).
1 cal = 41840000 erg
Type in either box. Scientific notation works: 1.5e-3.
Converting a list? Use the bulk calorie to erg converter to paste a column from Excel.
How to Convert Calorie to Erg
- 1 cal = 41840000 erg
- 1 erg = 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁸ cal
- Example: convert 15 cal to erg: 15 cal = 15 × 41840000 erg = 627600000 erg
Reference conditions. cal: Thermochemical calorie, 4.184 J exactly. The International Table calorie is 4.1868 J.
Formula
erg = cal × 41840000
Derivation from SI units:
- 1 cal (thermochemical) = 4.184 J (exact)
- 1 erg = 1 dyn·cm = 10⁻⁷ J
- 1 cal = 4.184 J ÷ 1 × 10⁻⁷ J per erg = 41840000 erg
Both units are defined exactly, so the factor is exact. Calorie definition: calorie; Erg definition: erg.
Worked examples
- A reading of 100 cal converts to 4184000000 erg.
100 cal × 41840000 = 4184000000 erg - A value of 1000 cal is 41840000000 erg.
1000 cal × 41840000 = 41840000000 erg
Calorie to Erg conversion table
| Calories (cal) | Ergs (erg) |
|---|---|
| 1 cal | 41840000 erg |
| 10 cal | 418400000 erg |
| 100 cal | 4184000000 erg |
| 250 cal | 10460000000 erg |
| 500 cal | 20920000000 erg |
| 1000 cal | 41840000000 erg |
| 4184 cal | 175058560000 erg |
| 10000 cal | 418400000000 erg |
Where it's used
Calories are used for chemistry and calorimetry, while ergs appear in astrophysics (luminosities in erg/s). Both measure energy, work and heat, so the conversion is a fixed factor.
Calorie to other energy units
| Conversion | 1 cal equals |
|---|---|
| calorie to joule | 4.184 J |
| calorie to kilojoule | 0.004184 kJ |
| calorie to megajoule | 0.000004184 MJ |
| calorie to kilocalorie | 0.001 kcal |
| calorie to watt-hour | 0.001162222222 Wh |
| calorie to kilowatt-hour | 0.000001162222222 kWh |
| calorie to BTU | 0.003965666831 BTU |
| calorie to therm | 3.966613703 × 10⁻⁸ thm |
| calorie to electronvolt | 2.611447397 × 10¹⁹ eV |
| calorie to foot-pound | 3.085960033 ft·lbf |
| calorie to erg | 41840000 erg |
Frequently asked questions
How many ergs are in 1 calorie?
1 cal = 41840000 erg.
How do I convert calories to ergs?
Multiply the value in cal by 41840000. For example, 15 cal × 41840000 = 627600000 erg.
Is the cal to erg conversion exact?
Yes. Both units are defined exactly, and 1 cal is exactly 41840000 erg.
Sources
- Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Appendix B.8, "calorie (thermochemical) (cal_th)".
- Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Appendix B.8, "erg (erg)".
Last reviewed: . Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.
Cite this page
APA
Scientific Converters. (2026, October 15). Convert Calories to Ergs. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/energy/calories-to-ergs/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Convert Calories to Ergs," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 17, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/energy/calories-to-ergs/