Convert Ergs to Calories
1 erg equals 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁸ calories (cal).
1 erg = 2.390057361e-8 cal
Type in either box. Scientific notation works: 1.5e-3.
Converting a list? Use the bulk erg to calorie converter to paste a column from Excel.
How to Convert Erg to Calorie
- 1 erg = 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁸ cal
- 1 cal = 41840000 erg
- Example: convert 15 erg to cal: 15 erg = 15 × 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁸ cal = 3.585086042 × 10⁻⁷ cal
Reference conditions. cal: Thermochemical calorie, 4.184 J exactly. The International Table calorie is 4.1868 J.
Formula
cal = erg ÷ 41840000
Derivation from SI units:
- 1 erg = 1 dyn·cm = 10⁻⁷ J
- 1 cal (thermochemical) = 4.184 J (exact)
- 1 erg = 1 × 10⁻⁷ J ÷ 4.184 J per cal = 2.390057361377 × 10⁻⁸ cal
Both units are defined exactly, so the factor is exact. Erg definition: erg; Calorie definition: calorie.
Worked examples
- A reading of 1000 erg converts to 0.00002390057361 cal.
1000 erg × 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁸ = 0.00002390057361 cal - A value of 1e6 erg is 0.02390057361 cal.
1e6 erg × 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁸ = 0.02390057361 cal
Erg to Calorie conversion table
| Ergs (erg) | Calories (cal) |
|---|---|
| 1 erg | 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁸ cal |
| 10 erg | 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁷ cal |
| 100 erg | 0.000002390057361 cal |
| 1000 erg | 0.00002390057361 cal |
| 10000 erg | 0.0002390057361 cal |
| 1e5 erg | 0.002390057361 cal |
| 1e6 erg | 0.02390057361 cal |
| 1e7 erg | 0.2390057361 cal |
| 1e10 erg | 239.0057361 cal |
| 3.828e33 erg | 9.149139579 × 10²⁵ cal |
Where it's used
Ergs are used for astrophysics (luminosities in erg/s), while calories appear in chemistry and calorimetry. Both measure energy, work and heat, so the conversion is a fixed factor.
Erg to other energy units
| Conversion | 1 erg equals |
|---|---|
| erg to joule | 1 × 10⁻⁷ J |
| erg to kilojoule | 1 × 10⁻¹⁰ kJ |
| erg to megajoule | 1 × 10⁻¹³ MJ |
| erg to calorie | 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁸ cal |
| erg to kilocalorie | 2.390057361 × 10⁻¹¹ kcal |
| erg to watt-hour | 2.777777778 × 10⁻¹¹ Wh |
| erg to kilowatt-hour | 2.777777778 × 10⁻¹⁴ kWh |
| erg to BTU | 9.478171203 × 10⁻¹¹ BTU |
| erg to therm | 9.48043428 × 10⁻¹⁶ thm |
| erg to electronvolt | 624150907400 eV |
| erg to foot-pound | 7.375621493 × 10⁻⁸ ft·lbf |
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in 1 erg?
1 erg = 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁸ cal.
How do I convert ergs to calories?
Multiply the value in erg by 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁸, or divide it by 41840000. For example, 15 erg × 2.390057361 × 10⁻⁸ = 3.585086042 × 10⁻⁷ cal.
Is the erg to cal conversion exact?
Yes. Both units are defined exactly, so the ratio is exact; its decimal form does not terminate and is shown here to 10 significant figures (more with the precision selector).
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, "erg (erg)".
- 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)".
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 Ergs to Calories. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/energy/ergs-to-calories/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Convert Ergs to Calories," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 17, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/energy/ergs-to-calories/