Metric Tons (Tonnes) Conversion

The metric ton is a unit used to measure weight. Use one of the conversion calculators below to convert to another unit of measure, or read on to learn more about metric tons.

Metric Ton Conversion Calculators

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Metric Ton Definition and Usage

One tonne is equal to 1,000 kilograms or 2,204.6 pounds, and is used throughout the world as a unit of mass/weight.^[1] One tonne is also equal to 1 megagram. The metric ton should not be confused with short tons, used primarily in the US, or long tons, used primarily in the UK.

The metric ton is an SI accepted unit for weight for use with the metric system. A metric ton is sometimes also referred to as a tonne. Metric tons can be abbreviated as t, and are also sometimes abbreviated as T, Te, or MT. For example, 1 metric ton can be written as 1 t, 1 T, 1 Te, or 1 MT.

In the US the unit is referred to as the metric ton, while the rest of the world refers to it as the tonne. Most often it's still pronounced as tun, but it is sometimes pronounced tunny.

Background and Origin

The tonne dates back to 1877 as the French form of ton, and was later adopted as the SI unit of mass in the mid-1900s. The tonne is derived from the Germanic word tun.