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Kilocalorie per Hour to Calorie per Second Converter

Convert kcal/h to cal/s with our free online power converter.

Quick Answer

1 Kilocalorie per Hour = 0.277778 cal/s

Formula: Kilocalorie per Hour Ɨ conversion factor = Calorie per Second

Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.

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All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.

Last verified: February 2026Reviewed by: Sam Mathew, Software Engineer

Kilocalorie per Hour to Calorie per Second Calculator

How to Use the Kilocalorie per Hour to Calorie per Second Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Kilocalorie per Hour).
  2. The converted value in Calorie per Second will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Power category.
  4. Click the swap button (ā‡Œ) to reverse the conversion direction.
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How to Convert Kilocalorie per Hour to Calorie per Second: Step-by-Step Guide

Converting Kilocalorie per Hour to Calorie per Second involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

cal/s = kcal/h Ɨ 0.277778

Example Calculation:

1 kcal/h = 0.277778 cal/s

Disclaimer: For Reference Only

These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.

Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.

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What is a Kilocalorie per Hour and a Calorie per Second?

1 kcal/h = 1.163 W = 0.001163 kW = 0.00156 hp = 3.968 BTU/h = 4,184 J/h

Note: Uses food Calorie (Cal) = kilocalorie (kcal) = 1,000 small calories

1 cal/s = 4.184 W = 0.004184 kW = 0.0056 hp = 14.29 BTU/h

Note: This uses IT (International Table) calorie = 4.1868 J (standard)

Note: The Kilocalorie per Hour is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Calorie per Second belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

Common Uses and Applications: kcal/h vs cal/s

Explore the typical applications for both Kilocalorie per Hour (imperial/US) and Calorie per Second (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for kcal/h

Metabolism: Basal metabolic rate (BMR), daily energy expenditure. Nutrition: Energy requirements, dietary planning. HVAC: Human body heat load in building calculations (Europe). Sports Science: Exercise energy expenditure, training zones.

When to Use cal/s

Physics Education: Thermodynamics problems, heat transfer calculations. Older Literature: Pre-SI engineering texts, vintage HVAC data. Scientific: Some chemistry and biology applications. Rarely Modern: Watts or kilocalories per hour preferred today.

Additional Unit Information

About Kilocalorie per Hour (kcal/h)

How do I convert kcal/h to watts?

Formula: W = kcal/h Ɨ 1.163

Examples:

  • 60 kcal/h = 70 W (sleeping)
  • 100 kcal/h = 116 W (sitting)
  • 500 kcal/h = 582 W (running)
  • 1,000 kcal/h = 1,163 W = 1.16 kW

kcal/h to Watts converter ā†’

How do I calculate my basal metabolic rate (BMR)?

Mifflin-St Jeor Equation (most accurate):

Men: BMR (kcal/day) = 10 Ɨ weight(kg) + 6.25 Ɨ height(cm) - 5 Ɨ age(years) + 5 Women: BMR (kcal/day) = 10 Ɨ weight(kg) + 6.25 Ɨ height(cm) - 5 Ɨ age(years) - 161

Convert to kcal/h: Divide by 24

Example - 30-year-old male, 80kg, 180cm:

  • BMR = (10 Ɨ 80) + (6.25 Ɨ 180) - (5 Ɨ 30) + 5 = 1,730 kcal/day
  • Hourly rate: 1,730 Ć· 24 = 72 kcal/h = 84 W

Example - 30-year-old female, 65kg, 165cm:

  • BMR = (10 Ɨ 65) + (6.25 Ɨ 165) - (5 Ɨ 30) - 161 = 1,370 kcal/day
  • Hourly rate: 1,370 Ć· 24 = 57 kcal/h = 66 W

What is the difference between kcal/h and cal/s?

kcal/h = Kilocalories per hour (large Calorie per hour) cal/s = Calories per second (small calorie per second)

Conversion: 1 cal/s = 3.6 kcal/h

Usage:

  • kcal/h: Metabolism, nutrition (aligns with daily calorie counts)
  • cal/s: Physics, thermodynamics

Example: 100W power

  • As watts: 100 W
  • As kcal/h: 86 kcal/h
  • As cal/s: 24 cal/s

How many kcal/h do I burn exercising?

MET (Metabolic Equivalent) method:

Formula: kcal/h = MET Ɨ weight(kg) Ɨ 1.05

Common MET values:

  • Sleeping: 0.9 METs
  • Sitting: 1.0 METs
  • Walking (3 mph): 3.5 METs
  • Jogging (5 mph): 8.0 METs
  • Running (7 mph): 11.5 METs
  • Cycling (moderate): 8.0 METs
  • Swimming (moderate): 8.0 METs

Example - 70kg person running at 7 mph:

  • kcal/h = 11.5 Ɨ 70 Ɨ 1.05 = 845 kcal/h = 982 W

Example - 70kg person walking at 3 mph:

  • kcal/h = 3.5 Ɨ 70 Ɨ 1.05 = 257 kcal/h = 299 W

Why does HVAC use kcal/h in some countries?

Historical: European HVAC tradition used kcal/h before SI adoption Body heat: Natural unit for human heat output (matches food calories) Transition: Many European countries now use watts Mixed practice: Some European standards still reference kcal/h

Conversion for HVAC:

  • 1 person (seated): 100 kcal/h = 116 W
  • Conference room (20 people): 2,000 kcal/h = 2,320 W = 2.32 kW
  • Gym (50 people, active): 20,000 kcal/h = 23,200 W = 23.2 kW

Modern practice: Most HVAC calculations now in watts or BTU/h.

About Calorie per Second (cal/s)

How do I convert cal/s to watts or kW?

Formula:

  • W = cal/s Ɨ 4.184
  • kW = cal/s Ɨ 0.004184

Examples:

  • 1 cal/s = 4.184 W
  • 10 cal/s = 41.84 W
  • 100 cal/s = 418.4 W = 0.418 kW
  • 1,000 cal/s = 4,184 W = 4.184 kW

cal/s to Watts converter ā†’ cal/s to kW converter ā†’

What is the difference between cal/s and kcal/h?

cal/s = Small calorie per second (rapid power) kcal/h = Kilocalorie (food Calorie) per hour (slower rate)

Conversion: 1 cal/s = 3.6 kcal/h

Usage:

  • cal/s: Physics, instant power measurements
  • kcal/h: Metabolism, HVAC (some regions)

Example: 70W human at rest

  • As watts: 70 W
  • As cal/s: 16.7 cal/s
  • As kcal/h: 60 kcal/h

How do I calculate heat transfer in cal/s?

Formula: Power (cal/s) = Heat (cal) Ć· Time (s)

Example: Melting ice

  • Ice mass: 100 g
  • Heat needed: 8,000 cal (80 cal/g latent heat)
  • Time: 60 seconds
  • Power: 8,000 Ć· 60 = 133 cal/s = 558 W

Heating water:

  • Water: 1 kg (1,000 g)
  • Temperature rise: 10Ā°C
  • Heat needed: 10,000 cal (1 cal/gā‹…Ā°C Ɨ 1,000g Ɨ 10Ā°C)
  • Time: 100 seconds
  • Power: 10,000 Ć· 100 = 100 cal/s = 418 W

Why use watts instead of cal/s?

SI standard: Watts are internationally standardized (1 W = 1 J/s) Simpler: Avoids cal vs kcal vs Cal confusion Electrical: All electrical power in watts Universal: Works across all energy forms (mechanical, electrical, thermal)

Exception: Some nutrition/metabolism research still uses cal/s or kcal/h for historical consistency.

Conversion Table: Kilocalorie per Hour to Calorie per Second

Kilocalorie per Hour (kcal/h)Calorie per Second (cal/s)
0.50.139
10.278
1.50.417
20.556
51.389
102.778
256.944
5013.889
10027.778
25069.444
500138.889
1,000277.778

People Also Ask

How do I convert Kilocalorie per Hour to Calorie per Second?

To convert Kilocalorie per Hour to Calorie per Second, enter the value in Kilocalorie per Hour in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our power converter page to convert between other units in this category.

Learn more ā†’

What is the conversion factor from Kilocalorie per Hour to Calorie per Second?

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Kilocalorie per Hour and Calorie per Second. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.

Can I convert Calorie per Second back to Kilocalorie per Hour?

Yes! You can easily convert Calorie per Second back to Kilocalorie per Hour by using the swap button (ā‡Œ) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Calorie per Second to Kilocalorie per Hour converter page. You can also explore other power conversions on our category page.

Learn more ā†’

What are common uses for Kilocalorie per Hour and Calorie per Second?

Kilocalorie per Hour and Calorie per Second are both standard units used in power measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our power converter for more conversion options.

For more power conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.

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Verified Against Authority Standards

All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.

NIST Reference on Constants, Units and Uncertainty

National Institute of Standards and Technology ā€” Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions

BIPM SI Units

Bureau International des Poids et Mesures ā€” International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards

ISO 80000

International Organization for Standardization ā€” Quantities and units international standards series

Last verified: February 19, 2026