lbs to kg Converter (Pounds to Kilograms)

How to Convert Pounds to Kilograms

To convert a pound measurement to a kilogram measurement, multiply the weight by the conversion ratio.

Since one pound is equal to 0.45359237 kilograms, you can use this formula to convert lbs to kg:

kilograms = pounds × 0.45359237

The weight in kilograms is equal to the pounds multiplied by 0.45359237.

For example, here's how to convert 3 pounds to kilograms using the formula above.

5 lbs = (5 × 0.45359237) = 2.267962 kg

The conversion factor of 0.45359237 is used because there are 2.204623 pounds per kilogram. Since 1 ÷ 2.204623 = 0.45359237, that's the conversion factor.

lb to kg conversion scale

conversion scale showing weight in pounds and equivalent value in kilograms

How Many Kilograms Are in a Pound?

There are 0.453592 kilograms in a pound, which is why we use this value in the formula above.

1 lb = 0.453592 kg

Quick Tip:

To quickly convert pounds to kilograms in your head, without a calculator, you can divide the measurement in pounds in half, then subtract 1/10 from the result to get a rough conversion.

While this is not a precise method, it is a quick shortcut allowing you to get a rough conversion on the fly when you don't have a calculator handy.

For instance, to convert 200 pounds to kilograms in your head, start by dividing 200 by 2, which is 100.

200 lb ÷ 2 = 100

Then, subtract 1/10 of 100 to get the result in kilograms.

100 × 1/10 = 10
100 - 10 = 90

So, 200 pounds is roughly equal to 90 kilograms.

How to Convert Pounds and Ounces to Kilograms

Pounds are often expressed with the decimal portion in ounces. To convert pounds and ounces to kilograms, you'll need to convert to pounds as a decimal first.

To do this, convert the ounces portion to pounds by dividing it by 16. The result should be a decimal smaller than 1.

Then, add that to the pounds portion to get the result in pounds as a decimal.

Then, convert pounds to kilograms using the method shown above.

For example, let's find the weight of an object weighing 3 pounds 8 ounces in kilograms.

Start by converting the ounces portion to decimal pounds by dividing 8 oz by 16. 8 oz divided by 16 is 0.5.

8 oz ÷ 16 oz/lb = 0.5 lb

Then, add that to the decimal pounds, which is 3.5.

3 + 0.5 = 3.5

Finally, use the pounds to kilograms formula above to complete the conversion.

3.5 × 0.45359237 = 1.587573 kg

Thus, the weight of an object weighing 3 pounds 8 ounces is equal to 1.587573 kilograms.

Pounds and kilograms are both units used to measure weight. Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.

What is a Pound?

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 (plural lbs), and are also sometimes abbreviated as lb_m or #. For example, 1 pound can be written as 1 lb, 1 lb_m, or 1 #, and 2 pounds can be written as 2 lbs.

Learn more about pounds.

What is a Kilogram?

One kilogram is equal to 1,000 grams, 2.204623 pounds, or 1/1,000 of a metric ton.

The formal definition of the kilogram changed in 2019. One kilogram was previously equal to the mass of the platinum-iridium bar, known as the International Prototype of the Kilogram, which was stored in Sèvres, France.

The 2019 SI brochure now defines the kilogram using the Planck constant, and it is defined using the meter and second.^[3] It is equal to the mass of 1,000 cubic centimeters of water.

The kilogram, or kilogramme, is the SI base unit for weight and is also a multiple of the gram. In the metric system, "kilo" is the prefix for thousands, or 10³. Kilograms can be abbreviated as kg; for example, 1 kilogram can be written as 1 kg.

Learn more about kilograms.

Pounds	Kilograms
1 lb	0.453592 kg
2 lb	0.907185 kg
3 lb	1.3608 kg
4 lb	1.8144 kg
5 lb	2.268 kg
6 lb	2.7216 kg
7 lb	3.1751 kg
8 lb	3.6287 kg
9 lb	4.0823 kg
10 lb	4.5359 kg
11 lb	4.9895 kg
12 lb	5.4431 kg
13 lb	5.8967 kg
14 lb	6.3503 kg
15 lb	6.8039 kg
16 lb	7.2575 kg
17 lb	7.7111 kg
18 lb	8.1647 kg
19 lb	8.6183 kg
20 lb	9.0718 kg
21 lb	9.5254 kg
22 lb	9.979 kg
23 lb	10.43 kg
24 lb	10.89 kg
25 lb	11.34 kg
26 lb	11.79 kg
27 lb	12.25 kg
28 lb	12.7 kg
29 lb	13.15 kg
30 lb	13.61 kg
31 lb	14.06 kg
32 lb	14.51 kg
33 lb	14.97 kg
34 lb	15.42 kg
35 lb	15.88 kg
36 lb	16.33 kg
37 lb	16.78 kg
38 lb	17.24 kg
39 lb	17.69 kg
40 lb	18.14 kg