Weight Unit Conversion: Pounds, Kilograms, Ounces, and More
The US uses pounds (lb) and ounces (oz) for everyday weights, while most of the world uses kilograms (kg) and grams (g). Converting between these systems is essential for cooking with international recipes, understanding your body weight when traveling, or comparing shipping weights across borders.
Key Reference Conversions
1 kg = 2.2046 lb / 1 lb = 453.592 g / 1 oz = 28.3495 g / 16 oz = 1 lb / 1 stone = 14 lb = 6.35 kg / 1 metric ton = 1,000 kg / 1 US short ton = 2,000 lb = 907.2 kg. A quick mental conversion: to go from kg to lb, multiply by 2.2; to go from lb to kg, multiply by 0.45.
Body Weight: Pounds vs Kilograms vs Stone
Americans state body weight in pounds; most of Europe uses kilograms; the UK traditionally uses stone and pounds. A 70 kg person weighs 154 lb or 11 stone. A 200 lb person weighs 90.7 kg or 14 stone 4. When comparing health statistics across countries, always verify which unit is being used.
Cooking and Baking Weight Conversions
US recipes use cups and ounces; most international recipes use grams. Weighing ingredients on a kitchen scale is more accurate than volume measurements — especially for flour (1 cup can range from 120–160g depending on how it's packed). For baking in particular, using grams ensures consistent results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Multiply by 2 and add 10% of that result. For example: 70 kg × 2 = 140, plus 14 (10%) = 154 lb. This gives you within 1% accuracy.
Exactly 16 ounces = 1 pound. So a 12-oz steak is 0.75 lb (340g) and a 1.5 lb roast is 24 oz (680g).