Pounds Conversion
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
Choose a unit of weight to convert to.
Pound Definition and Usage
One pound is defined as a unit of mass/weight equal to 16 ounces, or 0.45359237 kilograms. One pound is equal to 7,000 grains in the avoirdupois or apothecaries' systems.[1]
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.[2]
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.
Pounds Measurement Conversion Table
| pounds | tons | ounces | metric tons | long tons | kilograms | grams | milligrams | carats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | 0.0005 t | 16 oz | 0.000454 t | 0.000446 lt | 0.453592 kg | 453.59237 g | 453,592 mg | 2,268 ct |
| 2 lb | 0.001 t | 32 oz | 0.000907 t | 0.000893 lt | 0.907185 kg | 907.18474 g | 907,185 mg | 4,536 ct |
| 3 lb | 0.0015 t | 48 oz | 0.001361 t | 0.001339 lt | 1.360777 kg | 1,361 g | 1,360,777 mg | 6,804 ct |
| 4 lb | 0.002 t | 64 oz | 0.001814 t | 0.001786 lt | 1.814369 kg | 1,814 g | 1,814,369 mg | 9,072 ct |
| 5 lb | 0.0025 t | 80 oz | 0.002268 t | 0.002232 lt | 2.267962 kg | 2,268 g | 2,267,962 mg | 11,340 ct |
| 6 lb | 0.003 t | 96 oz | 0.002722 t | 0.002679 lt | 2.721554 kg | 2,722 g | 2,721,554 mg | 13,608 ct |
| 7 lb | 0.0035 t | 112 oz | 0.003175 t | 0.003125 lt | 3.175147 kg | 3,175 g | 3,175,147 mg | 15,876 ct |
| 8 lb | 0.004 t | 128 oz | 0.003629 t | 0.003571 lt | 3.628739 kg | 3,629 g | 3,628,739 mg | 18,144 ct |
| 9 lb | 0.0045 t | 144 oz | 0.004082 t | 0.004018 lt | 4.082331 kg | 4,082 g | 4,082,331 mg | 20,412 ct |
| 10 lb | 0.005 t | 160 oz | 0.004536 t | 0.004464 lt | 4.535924 kg | 4,536 g | 4,535,924 mg | 22,680 ct |
| 11 lb | 0.0055 t | 176 oz | 0.00499 t | 0.004911 lt | 4.989516 kg | 4,990 g | 4,989,516 mg | 24,948 ct |
| 12 lb | 0.006 t | 192 oz | 0.005443 t | 0.005357 lt | 5.443108 kg | 5,443 g | 5,443,108 mg | 27,216 ct |
| 13 lb | 0.0065 t | 208 oz | 0.005897 t | 0.005804 lt | 5.896701 kg | 5,897 g | 5,896,701 mg | 29,484 ct |
| 14 lb | 0.007 t | 224 oz | 0.00635 t | 0.00625 lt | 6.350293 kg | 6,350 g | 6,350,293 mg | 31,751 ct |
| 15 lb | 0.0075 t | 240 oz | 0.006804 t | 0.006696 lt | 6.803886 kg | 6,804 g | 6,803,886 mg | 34,019 ct |
| 16 lb | 0.008 t | 256 oz | 0.007257 t | 0.007143 lt | 7.257478 kg | 7,257 g | 7,257,478 mg | 36,287 ct |
| 17 lb | 0.0085 t | 272 oz | 0.007711 t | 0.007589 lt | 7.71107 kg | 7,711 g | 7,711,070 mg | 38,555 ct |
| 18 lb | 0.009 t | 288 oz | 0.008165 t | 0.008036 lt | 8.164663 kg | 8,165 g | 8,164,663 mg | 40,823 ct |
| 19 lb | 0.0095 t | 304 oz | 0.008618 t | 0.008482 lt | 8.618255 kg | 8,618 g | 8,618,255 mg | 43,091 ct |
| 20 lb | 0.01 t | 320 oz | 0.009072 t | 0.008929 lt | 9.071847 kg | 9,072 g | 9,071,847 mg | 45,359 ct |
References
- 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
