Weight Converter
Accurate mass conversion for science, cooking, shipping, and industry.
Mastering Mass and Weight Conversion
In physics, mass refers to the amount of matter in an object, while weight is the force exerted on that object by gravity. In everyday usage, however, we use the terms interchangeably. Whether you are baking a cake using a recipe from another country, estimating shipping costs for international freight, or calculating medication dosages, accurate weight conversion is essential. This Weight Converter vides a bridge between the Metric system (used by most of the world) and the Imperial system (common in the US and UK).
The Metric System: Logic in Base 10
The metric system is designed for simplicity, scaling by powers of 10. The fundamental unit is the gram (g).
• Kilogram (kg): 1,000 grams. This is the base unit of mass in the SI system and is roughly equal to the mass of 1 liter of water.
• Milligram (mg): 1/1,000th of a gram, commonly used in medicine and chemistry.
• Metric Tonne (t): 1,000 kilograms. Used for heavy industrial shipments.
The Imperial System: A Complex Legacy
The Imperial and US Customary systems rely on older definitions that can be tricky to memorize.
• Pound (lb): 16 Ounces. 1 kilogram is apximately 2.20462 pounds.
• Stone (st): Commonly used in the UK for body weight. 1 Stone equals 14 Pounds.
• Ounce (oz): Not to be confused with fluid ounces (volume), a weight ounce is 1/16th of a pound.
• Ton: Be careful here! A "Short Ton" (US) is 2,000 lbs, while a "Long Ton" (UK) is 2,240 lbs. This tool clarifies these differences automatically.
Precision Matters
When converting weight for culinary purposes, rounding is often acceptable (e.g., 500g is roughly 1.1 lbs). However, in fields like chemistry or precious metal trading (where units like Carats and Troy Ounces are used), precise decimal calculations are vital. Our tool retains high decimal precision to ensure your data is safe for scientific use.