How many calories are in gas?

If by “gas” you mean gasoline (petrol), it contains roughly 29,000–31,000 dietary Calories (kcal) per US gallon, about 7,600–8,100 kcal per liter, and around 10–11 kcal per gram. If you mean natural gas (primarily methane), it’s about 250–300 kcal per standard cubic foot and roughly 9,000–10,000 kcal per cubic meter. These figures reflect energy content, not nutrition—gasoline and natural gas are toxic and not edible.

Contents

What “gas” do you mean?
Why the numbers vary
Safety and context
Summary

What “gas” do you mean?

In everyday language, “gas” can refer to gasoline used in cars or to natural gas used for heating and cooking. Both are fossil fuels with high energy density, but they’re measured and sold in different units (liquid volume for gasoline, gaseous volume for natural gas). Below are commonly used, practical conversions into dietary Calories (kcal), which are simply another way to express energy.

Gasoline (petrol): energy in dietary Calories

Regulatory and engineering references in the U.S. commonly use 33.7 kWh per gallon as the “gasoline gallon equivalent” (GGE), which corresponds to about 121 megajoules (MJ) per US gallon. Converting that to food Calories (1 kcal = 4.184 kJ) gives the following approximations.

Per US gallon: ≈ 29,000 kcal (based on 33.7 kWh ≈ 121 MJ/gal)

Per liter: ≈ 7,650–7,700 kcal/L (121 MJ/gal ÷ 3.785 L/gal ≈ 32 MJ/L; 32 MJ × 239 kcal/MJ ≈ 7,650 kcal)

Per kilogram: ≈ 10,300–10,600 kcal/kg (typical lower heating value ~43–44 MJ/kg)

Per gram: ≈ 10–11 kcal/g

These values are typical for modern pump gasoline blends; formulations and temperature can shift energy content slightly, so expect small variations around these numbers.

Natural gas (methane-rich fuel): energy in dietary Calories

Natural gas composition varies by region, but a common reference is about 1,030–1,050 BTU per standard cubic foot (scf), roughly 1.09–1.11 MJ. Converting to kcal yields these ballpark figures.

Per standard cubic foot (scf): ≈ 250–300 kcal (typical ≈ 260 kcal/scf)

Per cubic meter (m³): ≈ 9,000–10,000 kcal/m³ (≈ 35.3 scf per m³)

Per therm (100,000 BTU): ≈ 25,000 kcal (105.5 MJ × 239 kcal/MJ ≈ 25,200 kcal)

Per kilogram of methane (for reference): ≈ 11,500–12,000 kcal/kg (LHV ~50 MJ/kg)

Because utilities blend and meter gas differently and the methane/ethane content can vary, actual household natural-gas bills reflect a measured energy content (often in therms), not just volume.

Why the numbers vary

Fuel “calories” depend on blend, measurement basis, and conditions. Gasoline, for instance, can differ seasonally and by refinery, and engineers distinguish between lower heating value (LHV) and higher heating value (HHV). The LHV (which excludes the latent heat of water vapor in exhaust) is typically used for engine comparisons and the 33.7 kWh/gal gasoline-equivalent standard used in U.S. efficiency ratings.

Blend and composition: Ethanol content and hydrocarbon mix change energy per unit.

Temperature and density: Warmer fuel is less dense, reducing energy per given volume.

LHV vs. HHV: HHV is higher because it includes the energy recoverable if exhaust water condenses; engines generally operate closer to LHV.

Metering standards: Gas volumes (natural gas) depend on defined pressure and temperature (e.g., “standard” cubic foot).

When you see slightly different figures from reputable sources, they’re usually using different assumptions about these factors.

Safety and context

While expressing fuel energy in dietary Calories is a useful way to compare magnitudes, gasoline and natural gas are toxic and not metabolizable by the human body. Do not ingest or inhale them. Also note that a human’s conversion of food energy to work is not directly comparable to an engine’s conversion of fuel energy to mechanical output; efficiencies and usable work differ markedly across biological and mechanical systems.

Summary

Gasoline contains on the order of 29,000–31,000 dietary Calories per US gallon (about 7,600–8,100 kcal per liter; roughly 10–11 kcal per gram). Natural gas contains about 250–300 kcal per standard cubic foot and around 9,000–10,000 kcal per cubic meter. These are energy-equivalence figures, not nutritional values, and actual numbers vary with composition, conditions, and whether LHV or HHV is used.

How many calories are in a cup of gas?

A cup of gasoline contains approximately 2,000 to 2,500 kilocalories (kcal) of chemical energy, but your body cannot metabolize this energy from the fuel. The term “calorie” in the context of food refers to a kilocalorie (kcal), which is the amount of energy your body can digest and use. Gasoline, while rich in chemical energy, is a toxic substance that is not a food source and is dangerous to consume.
Why the distinction matters:

Chemical vs. Nutritional Calories: While gasoline releases a lot of energy when burned, this is its physical calorific value, not its nutritional value.
Body vs. Fuel: Your digestive system is not equipped to break down gasoline into usable energy, unlike fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in food.
Toxicity: Attempting to consume gasoline is extremely dangerous and potentially fatal, as it is a poisonous substance, not a source of sustenance.

In summary, a cup of gasoline has energy, but it’s like a car has miles-per-gallon, and you cannot use it to run a marathon, as that requires nutritional calories your body can process.

How many calories are in 1 g of uranium?

A gram of uranium does not contain nutritional calories, but if its energy potential from complete nuclear fission is considered, it can release approximately 20 billion calories (or ~82 billion joules). This enormous energy release is due to nuclear fission of the uranium-235 isotope, but it cannot be accessed by the human body through digestion, as it is a radioactive heavy metal, not a food source. Eating uranium would cause severe heavy metal poisoning, leading to renal failure and death, not weight gain from calories.
Why a gram of uranium has such immense energy:

Nuclear Fission: Opens in new tabUranium-235 undergoes nuclear fission, a process where its atomic nuclei split, releasing a vast amount of energy.
Energy Conversion: Opens in new tabThis energy is released in the form of heat, radiation, and other subatomic particles, which can be converted into calories.
Complete Fission: Opens in new tabThe 20 billion calorie figure refers to the energy released from the complete fission of one gram of uranium-235, a process that requires a nuclear reactor, not the human stomach.

Why you can’t “eat” the calories in uranium:

Heavy Metal Toxicity: Uranium is a highly radioactive and toxic heavy metal, not a nutrient.
No Metabolism: The human body cannot metabolize uranium to extract energy, nor is it equipped to trigger a nuclear chain reaction.
Danger of Consumption: Ingesting uranium would lead to severe internal damage, including renal failure and death, long before any nuclear energy could be released.

How much protein is in gasoline?

Gasoline is a refined petroleum product and does not contain protein; the energy it provides comes from its hydrocarbon components, which are not metabolized by the human body as proteins, carbohydrates, or fats. Therefore, you cannot derive any nutritional value or “protein” from consuming or being exposed to gasoline.
Why Gasoline Has No Protein

Hydrocarbon Composition: Gasoline is made up of various hydrocarbons—molecules composed only of hydrogen and carbon atoms. These are the chemical compounds that store chemical energy, which is released when burned in an engine.
No Nutritional Macros: Proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are essential macronutrients found in food that the human body can digest and use for energy and other functions. Gasoline does not contain any of these biological molecules.

Why You Should Not Consume Gasoline

Toxicity: Opens in new tabGasoline is toxic and can cause serious harm to your health if ingested or if you have extended exposure to its fumes.
Lack of Metabolism: Opens in new tabEven if gasoline contained calories, the human body lacks the necessary digestive enzymes to break down its hydrocarbon components into usable energy.

In summary, the claim that gasoline contains protein is a misunderstanding of its composition and function. It is a fuel source, not a food source.

How many calories does gas have in it?

A gallon of gasoline contains approximately 31,000 to 31,500 food calories (kilocalories). While these calories represent a significant amount of energy, similar to over 100 hamburgers, they are not available for human consumption or use by the body, as gasoline is a poisonous and indigestible substance.
Key Points

Quantity: One gallon of gasoline contains roughly 31,000 to 31,500 food calories.
Equivalency: This energy is equivalent to the caloric content of numerous food items, like many hamburgers.
Indigestible and Poisonous: Humans cannot process gasoline for energy because it is not digestible.
Danger: Gasoline is poisonous and highly flammable, and consuming it is extremely dangerous and even fatal.

In summary: Although gasoline has a high caloric energy value, it is a dangerous and indigestible fuel, not a food source.