How Many Calories in a Gram of Carbohydrates?
Quick Answer
There are 4 calories (kcal) in a gram of carbohydrates.
1 g carbohydrates = 4 kcal
Understanding the Conversion
Carbohydrates provide 4 kilocalories per gram. This applies to all carbs: sugars, starches, and most fibers (some fiber provides 2 kcal/g). The Atwater general factors — 4-9-4 for carbs-fat-protein — are used on all nutrition labels worldwide.
Formula
1 g carbohydrates = 4 kcal
Common Examples
| Description | Value |
|---|---|
| A slice of bread (15g carbs) | 60 kcal from carbs |
| A banana (27g carbs) | 108 kcal from carbs |
| 1 cup of rice (45g carbs, cooked) | 180 kcal from carbs |
Quick Reference Table
Use this table for quick conversions between gram of carbohydrates and calories:
| gram of carbohydrates | calories |
|---|---|
| 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 5 | 20 |
| 10 | 40 |
| 25 | 100 |
| 50 | 200 |
| 100 | 400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Calories in a Gram of Carbohydrates?
There are 4 calories (kcal) in a gram of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide 4 kilocalories per gram. This applies to all carbs: sugars, starches, and most fibers (some fiber provides 2 kcal/g). The Atwater general factors — 4-9-4 for carbs-fat-protein — are used on all nutrition labels worldwide.
What is the formula to convert gram of carbohydrates to calories?
The formula is: 1 g carbohydrates = 4 kcal. To convert, multiply the number of gram of carbohydratess by 4 to get the equivalent in calories.
How do I convert calories to gram of carbohydrates?
To convert calories to gram of carbohydrates, divide the number of calories by 4. For example, 20 calories equals 5 gram of carbohydratess.