Weight Converter | Pound Kilogram Ton

Calculator ↑Contents ↑

Tips on use of the calculator

Units of weight have developed historically and have differed from country to country. Even in the various branches of science or, for example, the trades, different units of measurement were always common. In the meanwhile, the metric system, with the kilogram as the base unit for weight in the SI International System of Units (Système international d'unités), was established for purposes of standardization. Nevertheless, other units that are not part of the metric system continue to be commonly used . Especially in the Anglo-American system, the weight units of ton, hundredweight, pound, ounce, dram and grain are used for historical reasons.

Enter the weight to be converted and choose from and to which unit of weight this value is to be converted. The weight converter provides the most common metric and Anglo-American weight measures for the calculation. For more information on the various units of weight, use the help buttons with question marks on the calculator.

Calculator ↑Contents ↑

Metric units of weight

The metric system is the system of units with the kilogram as the base unit for the weight or mass. Unlike other systems of units, decimal multiples or decimal fractions can easily be calculated here. Among other, it includes the following units of weight:

Ton (t)

The unit ton belongs to the metric system and is derived from the basic unit kilogram. 1 metric ton can be converted into 1,000 kilograms, and 1 kilogram is equivalent to 0.001 metric tons. The ton belongs to the International System of Units (SI).

Kilogram (kg)

The kilogram is the basic unit of mass, i.e., the weight in the International System of Units (SI) and in other metric systems. It has been determined since 1889 by the mass of the international kilogram prototype, or the original kilogram. This is a platinum-iridium cylinder kept in a safe by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Paris. All other units of mass or weight in the metric system are derived from the kilogram (e.g., 1 t = 1,000 kg, 1 kg = 1,000 g).

Hectogram (hg)

The unit hectogram belongs to the metric system and is derived from the basic unit kilogram. 1 kilogram is equivalent to 10 hectograms, and 1 hectogram is equivalent to 0.1 kilograms. According to the conversion into kilograms, the hectogram is defined in national systems of units and standards.

Gram (g)

The unit gram also belongs to the metric system and is derived from the basic unit kilogram. 1 kilogram is equivalent to 1,000 grams, and 1 gram is equivalent to 0.001 kilograms. According to the conversion to kilogram, the gram is defined in national systems of units and standards.

Centigram (cg)

The unit centigram also belongs to the metric system and is derived from the basic unit kilogram. 1 kilogram is equivalent to 100,000 centigrams, and 1 centigram is equivalent to 0.00001 kilograms. The centigram is also defined in national systems of units and standards in accordance with the conversion into kilograms.

Milligram (mg)

The unit milligram belongs to the metric system and is derived from the basic unit kilogram. 1 kilogram is equivalent to one million milligrams, and 1 milligram is equivalent to one millionth of a kilogram. According to the conversion into kilograms, the milligram is defined in national systems of units and standards.

Microgram (μg)

The unit microgram also belongs to the metric system and is derived from the basic unit kilogram. One kilogram is equivalent to one billion micrograms, and one microgram is equivalent to one billionth of a kilogram. According to the conversion into kilograms, the microgram is defined in national systems of units and standards.

Nanogram (ng)

Finally, the unit nanogram also belongs to the metric system and is derived from the base unit kilogram. One kilogram is equivalent to one trillion nanograms, and one nanogram is equivalent to one trillionth of a kilogram. According to the conversion into kilograms, the nanogram is defined in national systems of units and standards.

Carat (kt)

The carat unit is primarily used for weighing gemstones. The carat belongs to the metric system and is derived from the basic unit kilogram. 1 carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams, and 1 carat is equivalent to 0.0002 kilograms. According to the conversion into kilograms, the carat is defined in national systems of units and standards. It is a legal unit in the countries of the EU but does not belong to the International System of Units (SI).

Atomic mass unit (u)

The atomic mass unit is used to specify atomic and molecular masses. The value is fixed at 1/12 of the mass of an atom of the carbon isotope 12C. Thus, 1 u corresponds approximately to the mass of a proton or neutron. The unit symbol "u" stands for unified atomic mass unit. The atomic mass unit belongs to the International System of Units and is derived from the base unit kilogram. 1 u is equivalent to 1.660538921x10-27 kilograms.

Other metric units of weight

There are numerous other SI units of weight, which ultimately represent a multiple or fraction of the gram. For this purpose, so-called unit prefixes, i.e., prefixes for the gram, are formed as in the previous examples. The following table provides an overview:

Symbol	Name	Value
			Short scale	Long scale	Unit
Yg	Yottagram	1024	septillion	quadrillion	grams
Zg	Zettagram	1021	sextillion	trilliard	grams
Eg	Exagram	1018	quintillion	trillion	grams
Pg	Petagram	1015	quadrillion	billiard	grams
Tg	Teragram	1012	trillion	billion	grams
Gg	Gigagram	109	billion	milliard	grams
Mg	Megagram	106	million		grams
kg	Kilogram	103	thousand		grams
hg	Hectogram	102	hundred		grams
dag	Decagram	101	ten		grams
g	Gram	100	one		gram
dg	Decigram	10-1	tenth		of a gram
cg	Centigram	10-2	hundredth		of a gram
mg	Milligram	10-3	thousandth		of a gram
µg	Microgram	10-6	millionth		of a gram
ng	Nanogram	10-9	billionth	milliardth	of a gram
pg	Picogram	10-12	trillionth	billionth	of a gram
fg	Femtogram	10-15	quadrillionth	billiardth	of a gram
ag	Attogram	10-18	quintillionth	trillionth	of a gram
zg	Zeptogram	10-21	sextillionth	trilliardth	of a gram
yg	Yoctogram	10-24	septillionth	quadrillionth	of a gram

Calculator ↑Contents ↑

Anglo-American units of weight

The Anglo-American units of weight have their origins in medieval England. Many of them were sizes that can be measured by everyday objects, such as grain, stone or dram. Over time, they were largely unified and finally the metric system was used as the yardstick for most Anglo-American weight units. They do not, however, belong to the International System of Units, i.e., they are not SI-compliant.

Long ton (tn.l.)

In outdated terms, the long ton is also called the "British ton". It is equivalent to 20 "long hundredweight" or 2,240 pounds. As with the short ton, a long ton is equivalent to 20 hundredweight. The unit hundredweight differs in the British and American systems, however. While in America a hundredweight is defined as 100 pounds, in the Anglo-Saxon world it is defined as 112 pounds. Thus: one long ton is equivalent to 20 long hundredweight, which in turn is equivalent to 2,240 pounds and thus 1,016.0469088 kilograms. The long ton is used in particular for the standard displacement of a ship fixed in Washington in 1922. By the way, the well-known unit of "ton" from the metric system, which is defined as 1,000 kilograms, is consequently called the metric ton in the Anglo-American area to differentiate from the long ton and short ton.

Short ton (tn.sh.)

In outdated terms, the short ton is also known as "American ton" and is especially common in the USA. It is equivalent to 20 "short hundredweight" or 2,000 pounds. As with the long ton, a short ton is equivalent to 20 hundredweight. The unit hundredweight differs in the British and American systems, however. While in America a hundredweight is defined as 100 pounds, in the Anglo-Saxon world it is defined as 112 pounds. Thus: one short ton is equivalent to 20 short hundredweight, which in turn is equivalent to 2,000 pounds and thus 907.18474 kilograms. By the way, the well-known unit "ton" from the metric system, which is defined as 1,000 kilograms, is consequently called the metric ton in the Anglo-American area to differentiate from the long ton and short ton.

Long hundredweight (cwt.l.)

In outdated terms, the long hundredweight is also known as the "British hundredweight", where it is common and is equivalent to 112 pounds or 50.80234544 kilograms. The term "hundredweight" is roughly equivalent to the German term "Zentner".

Short hundredweight (cwt.sh.)

The short hundredweight is also known as the "American hundredweight", where it is common and is equivalent to 100 pounds or 45.359237 kilograms. The term "hundredweight" is roughly equivalent to the German term "Zentner".

Stone (st)

The stone unit of weight is a British non-SI unit which was an official unit in Great Britain until 1985. One stone is equivalent to 14 pounds or 6.35029318 kilograms. As an unofficial unit in Great Britain for human body weight, a stone has a similar significance as the obsolete and abolished units of kilocalorie or PS in Germany.

Pound (lb)

The pound does not belong to the SI International System of Units (Système international d'unités) either. Many different definitions were used, but today the international avoirdupois pound is the most common unit and is officially defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms. Thus, 1 pound is equivalent to 0.45359237 kilograms, and one kilogram is equivalent to 2.20462262 pounds. The avoirdupois pound described here is equivalent to 16 ounces and should not be confused with the troy pound, which is now used only rarely for precious metals and is derived from the troy ounce.

Ounce (oz.)

The common ounce (English: international avoirdupois ounce) as unit of weight is very common in the Anglo-American area but does not belong to the International System of Units. It should not be confused with the troy ounce or apothecaries' ounce and is frequently used in many countries to indicate the weight of foods. 1 ounce is equivalent to 28.349523125 grams, and one gram is equivalent to 0.035273961 ounces.

Troy ounce (oz.tr.)

The troy ounce as a unit of weight does not belong to the International System of Units but is used for precious metals. Its weight corresponds to that of the apothecaries' ounce but refers only to the precious metal content. 1 troy ounce is equivalent to 31.1034768 grams, and 1 gram is equivalent to 0.0321507466 troy ounces.

Apothecaries' ounce (oz.ap.)

The apothecaries' ounce as a unit of weight does not belong to the International System of Units but is used for medicines and chemicals. Its weight is equivalent to that of the a troy ounce. 1 apothecaries' ounce is equivalent to 31.1034768 grams, and 1 gram is equivalent to 0.0321507466 apothecaries' ounces'.