How to use it
- Type a weight. Decimals, commas and scientific notation all work.
- Pick the unit you have and the unit you want; the swap button reverses them and keeps the amount.
- Copy the result, or open “Show this weight in every unit” for the full list.
How the conversion works
Since the 1959 international yard and pound agreement, the pound is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms. Every US customary weight follows from it:
1 lb = 0.45359237 kg = 453.59237 g (exact)
1 oz = 1/16 lb = 28.349523125 g (exact)
1 stone = 14 lb = 6.35029318 kg (exact)
1 US ton (short ton) = 2,000 lb = 907.18474 kg (exact)
1 metric ton = 1,000 kg
Quick estimate: kilograms × 2.2 ≈ pounds, and pounds × 0.45 ≈ kilograms.
Worked examples
70 kg in pounds
70 ÷ 0.45359237
154.32 lb
1 pound in grams
1 × 453.59237
453.59237 g
8 ounces in grams
8 × 28.349523125
226.796185 g
11 stone in kilograms
11 × 14 × 0.45359237
69.85 kg
1 US ton in metric tons
2,000 × 0.45359237 ÷ 1,000
0.90718474 t
Weight or mass?
Strictly, kilograms and pounds measure mass; weight is the force of gravity on that mass. In everyday US use, and on scales, “weight” means mass, and that is what this converter converts. These are avoirdupois ounces and pounds, used for food and body weight; troy ounces (precious metals) and fluid ounces (volume) are different units.
Where this comes up
- Body weight and fitness: kilograms on medical forms, pounds on bathroom scales, stone in the UK.
- Cooking: recipes in grams, kitchen scales in ounces.
- Shipping and luggage: 23 kg airline limits versus 50 lb.
- Trucks and freight: US tons versus metric tons.
Accuracy and rounding
Every factor is exact and results are rounded only for display, with an Exact or Rounded badge. The everyday comparisons on the drawing (a baseball, a gallon of water, a car) are typical values, not exact ones.
Questions
How many pounds are in a kilogram?
About 2.20462 pounds. Exactly, 1 kg = 1 ÷ 0.45359237 lb.
How many ounces are in a pound?
Exactly 16 avoirdupois ounces.
Is a US ton the same as a metric ton?
No. A US (short) ton is 2,000 lb, about 907 kg; a metric ton is 1,000 kg, about 2,205 lb. The UK long ton (2,240 lb) is different again.
Why do the blocks on the balance differ in size?
They are drawn as if made of one material, so their size follows their mass. A block with twice the mass looks about 26% taller.