Convert Foot-pounds to Calories
1 foot-pound (ft·lbf) equals 0.3240482668 calories (cal).
1 ft·lbf = 0.3240482668 cal
Type in either box. Scientific notation works: 1.5e-3.
Converting a list? Use the bulk foot-pound to calorie converter to paste a column from Excel.
How to Convert Foot-pound to Calorie
- 1 ft·lbf = 0.3240482668 cal
- 1 cal = 3.085960033 ft·lbf
- Example: convert 15 ft·lbf to cal: 15 ft·lbf = 15 × 0.3240482668 cal = 4.860724002 cal
Reference conditions. cal: Thermochemical calorie, 4.184 J exactly. The International Table calorie is 4.1868 J.
Formula
cal = ft·lbf × 0.3240482668096
or cal = ft·lbf ÷ 3.085960032576
Derivation from SI units:
- 1 ft·lbf = 0.3048 m × 4.4482216152605 N = 1.3558179483314 J
- 1 cal (thermochemical) = 4.184 J (exact)
- 1 ft·lbf = 1.355817948331 J ÷ 4.184 J per cal = 0.3240482668096 cal
Both units are defined exactly, so the factor is exact. Foot-pound definition: foot-pound; Calorie definition: calorie.
Worked examples
- A reading of 25 ft·lbf converts to 8.10120667 cal.
25 ft·lbf × 0.3240482668 = 8.10120667 cal - A value of 250 ft·lbf is 81.0120667 cal.
250 ft·lbf × 0.3240482668 = 81.0120667 cal
Foot-pound to Calorie conversion table
| Foot-pounds (ft·lbf) | Calories (cal) |
|---|---|
| 1 ft·lbf | 0.3240482668 cal |
| 5 ft·lbf | 1.620241334 cal |
| 10 ft·lbf | 3.240482668 cal |
| 25 ft·lbf | 8.10120667 cal |
| 50 ft·lbf | 16.20241334 cal |
| 100 ft·lbf | 32.40482668 cal |
| 250 ft·lbf | 81.0120667 cal |
| 500 ft·lbf | 162.0241334 cal |
| 1000 ft·lbf | 324.0482668 cal |
| 2000 ft·lbf | 648.0965336 cal |
Where it's used
Foot-pounds are used for muzzle energy of firearms and air rifles, while calories appear in chemistry and calorimetry. Both measure energy, work and heat, so the conversion is a fixed factor.
Foot-pound to other energy units
| Conversion | 1 ft·lbf equals |
|---|---|
| foot-pound to joule | 1.355817948 J |
| foot-pound to kilojoule | 0.001355817948 kJ |
| foot-pound to megajoule | 0.000001355817948 MJ |
| foot-pound to calorie | 0.3240482668 cal |
| foot-pound to kilocalorie | 0.0003240482668 kcal |
| foot-pound to watt-hour | 0.0003766160968 Wh |
| foot-pound to kilowatt-hour | 3.766160968 × 10⁻⁷ kWh |
| foot-pound to BTU | 0.001285067463 BTU |
| foot-pound to therm | 1.285374295 × 10⁻⁸ thm |
| foot-pound to electronvolt | 8.462350028 × 10¹⁸ eV |
| foot-pound to erg | 13558179.48 erg |
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in 1 foot-pound?
1 ft·lbf = 0.3240482668 cal.
How do I convert foot-pounds to calories?
Multiply the value in ft·lbf by 0.3240482668, or divide it by 3.085960033. For example, 15 ft·lbf × 0.3240482668 = 4.860724002 cal.
Is the ft·lbf 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, "foot pound-force (ft·lbf)".
- 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 Foot-pounds to Calories. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/energy/foot-pounds-to-calories/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Convert Foot-pounds to Calories," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 17, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/energy/foot-pounds-to-calories/