Pounds Conversion
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The pound 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 pounds.
Pound Conversion Calculators
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Pound Definition and Usage
Pounds are a widely used unit of mass/weight in the United States. The National Bureau of Standards approved the international definition of the pound for use in the United States in 1959 after an agreement between six nations referred to as the International Yard and Pound Agreement.[1]
One pound is equal to 16 ounces, or 0.45359237 kilograms. In the avoirdupois or apothecaries' systems, one pound is equal to 7,000 grains.[2]
The pound is a US customary and imperial unit of weight. A pound is sometimes also referred to as a common ounce. Pounds can be abbreviated as lb, and are also sometimes abbreviated as lbs, lbm, or #. For example, 1 pound can be written as 1 lb, 1 lbs, 1 lbm, or 1 #.
Background and Origin
The pound originates from the libra, which is where the abbreviation "lb" comes from. The libra was a Roman unit of mass equal to 328.9 grams, or about 123 ounces.[3]
Over time, the libra was replaced by variations of the pound, such as the tower pound and the troy pound. Eventually it evolved into the modern variation, the avoirdupois pound.
How Much is a Pound?
If you're here, then there's a good chance you might be wondering just how much is a pound? One pound is equal to 16 ounces or 0.453592 kilograms.
The chart below shows how much a pound is in other measures of weight.
| pounds | tons | ounces | metric tons | kilograms | grams | milligrams | calories | stones | long tons | carats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | 0.0005 t | 16 oz | 0.000454 t | 0.453592 kg | 453.59237 g | 453,592 mg | 3,500 kcal | 0.071429 st | 0.000446 lt | 2,268 ct |
| 2 lb | 0.001 t | 32 oz | 0.000907 t | 0.907185 kg | 907.18474 g | 907,185 mg | 7,000 kcal | 0.142857 st | 0.000893 lt | 4,536 ct |
| 3 lb | 0.0015 t | 48 oz | 0.001361 t | 1.360777 kg | 1,361 g | 1,360,777 mg | 10,500 kcal | 0.214286 st | 0.001339 lt | 6,804 ct |
| 4 lb | 0.002 t | 64 oz | 0.001814 t | 1.814369 kg | 1,814 g | 1,814,369 mg | 14,000 kcal | 0.285714 st | 0.001786 lt | 9,072 ct |
| 5 lb | 0.0025 t | 80 oz | 0.002268 t | 2.267962 kg | 2,268 g | 2,267,962 mg | 17,500 kcal | 0.357143 st | 0.002232 lt | 11,340 ct |
| 6 lb | 0.003 t | 96 oz | 0.002722 t | 2.721554 kg | 2,722 g | 2,721,554 mg | 21,000 kcal | 0.428571 st | 0.002679 lt | 13,608 ct |
| 7 lb | 0.0035 t | 112 oz | 0.003175 t | 3.175147 kg | 3,175 g | 3,175,147 mg | 24,500 kcal | 0.5 st | 0.003125 lt | 15,876 ct |
| 8 lb | 0.004 t | 128 oz | 0.003629 t | 3.628739 kg | 3,629 g | 3,628,739 mg | 28,000 kcal | 0.571429 st | 0.003571 lt | 18,144 ct |
| 9 lb | 0.0045 t | 144 oz | 0.004082 t | 4.082331 kg | 4,082 g | 4,082,331 mg | 31,500 kcal | 0.642857 st | 0.004018 lt | 20,412 ct |
| 10 lb | 0.005 t | 160 oz | 0.004536 t | 4.535924 kg | 4,536 g | 4,535,924 mg | 35,000 kcal | 0.714286 st | 0.004464 lt | 22,680 ct |
| 11 lb | 0.0055 t | 176 oz | 0.00499 t | 4.989516 kg | 4,990 g | 4,989,516 mg | 38,500 kcal | 0.785714 st | 0.004911 lt | 24,948 ct |
| 12 lb | 0.006 t | 192 oz | 0.005443 t | 5.443108 kg | 5,443 g | 5,443,108 mg | 42,000 kcal | 0.857143 st | 0.005357 lt | 27,216 ct |
| 13 lb | 0.0065 t | 208 oz | 0.005897 t | 5.896701 kg | 5,897 g | 5,896,701 mg | 45,500 kcal | 0.928571 st | 0.005804 lt | 29,484 ct |
| 14 lb | 0.007 t | 224 oz | 0.00635 t | 6.350293 kg | 6,350 g | 6,350,293 mg | 49,000 kcal | 1 st | 0.00625 lt | 31,751 ct |
| 15 lb | 0.0075 t | 240 oz | 0.006804 t | 6.803886 kg | 6,804 g | 6,803,886 mg | 52,500 kcal | 1.071429 st | 0.006696 lt | 34,019 ct |
| 16 lb | 0.008 t | 256 oz | 0.007257 t | 7.257478 kg | 7,257 g | 7,257,478 mg | 56,000 kcal | 1.142857 st | 0.007143 lt | 36,287 ct |
| 17 lb | 0.0085 t | 272 oz | 0.007711 t | 7.71107 kg | 7,711 g | 7,711,070 mg | 59,500 kcal | 1.214286 st | 0.007589 lt | 38,555 ct |
| 18 lb | 0.009 t | 288 oz | 0.008165 t | 8.164663 kg | 8,165 g | 8,164,663 mg | 63,000 kcal | 1.285714 st | 0.008036 lt | 40,823 ct |
| 19 lb | 0.0095 t | 304 oz | 0.008618 t | 8.618255 kg | 8,618 g | 8,618,255 mg | 66,500 kcal | 1.357143 st | 0.008482 lt | 43,091 ct |
| 20 lb | 0.01 t | 320 oz | 0.009072 t | 9.071847 kg | 9,072 g | 9,071,847 mg | 70,000 kcal | 1.428571 st | 0.008929 lt | 45,359 ct |
References
- National Bureau of Standards, Refinement of Values for the Yard and Pound, U.S. Department of Commerce, July 1, 1959, https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2017/05/09/frn-59-5442-1959.pdf
- Encyclopædia Britannica, Avoirdupois weight, https://www.britannica.com/science/avoirdupois-weight
- Arika Okrent, Why are pound and ounce abbreviated as 'lb' and 'oz'?, The Week, https://theweek.com/articles/461362/why-are-pound-ounce-abbreviated-lb-oz