What is kilogram?
The kilogram is the SI base unit of mass. It is used globally as the standard for measuring weight and mass in science, industry, trade, and everyday life.
Real-world uses
The kilogram is the SI base unit of mass, used universally in science, commerce, and daily life outside the US. Grocery items, body weight in medical settings, and shipping weights are measured in kilograms across most of the world.
History
Originally defined in 1795 as the mass of one litre of water at 4°C. A platinum-iridium cylinder served as the standard from 1889 until 2019, when the kilogram was redefined in terms of the Planck constant, ending reliance on a physical artefact.
Common mistakes
Confusing mass (kg) with weight (newtons)—a kilogram measures mass, not force. Also, assuming 1 kg equals exactly 2 pounds; it is actually about 2.205 pounds.
What is short ton (US)?
A short ton is a unit of mass used primarily in the United States, equal to 2,000 pounds. It is used in industries such as mining, agriculture, and freight transportation.
Real-world uses
The short ton is the standard ton in US commerce and industry, used for coal, grain, and bulk commodity trading. HVAC cooling capacity was traditionally rated in tons (1 ton of refrigeration ≈ cooling of 1 short ton of ice per day).
History
The short ton of 2,000 pounds became standard in the United States as a simplified version of the older English long ton. It gained legal definition in US commerce during the 19th century and remains the default "ton" in American industry.
Common mistakes
Assuming "ton" means the same thing globally. In the US it means 2,000 lb (short ton), in the UK it traditionally meant 2,240 lb (long ton), and internationally it usually means 1,000 kg (metric tonne).
When is this conversion used?
Converting between kilogram and short ton (US) is common when working across metric and imperial systems, such as international trade, travel between countries with different measurement standards, or following instructions from a different region. Body weight, grocery items, and luggage limits are commonly expressed in kilograms in most countries and pounds in the US and UK, making this one of the most frequently needed mass conversions.
Worked examples
1 kilogram = 0.00110231 short ton (US)
1 short ton (US) = 907.18474 kilogram
How to convert kilogram to short ton (US)
To convert kilogram to short ton (US), multiply the value by 0.00110231.
To convert short ton (US) back to kilogram, multiply by 907.18474.
Measurement standards
The kilogram is defined by fixing the Planck constant to exactly 6.62607015 × 10⁻³⁴ joule-seconds, as established at the 26th General Conference on Weights and Measures in 2018. This ended the last SI definition based on a physical artefact.
Did you know?
The International Prototype of the Kilogram, a platinum-iridium cylinder stored near Paris since 1889, was found to have drifted by about 50 micrograms relative to its copies over a century — roughly the mass of a fingerprint.
Quick reference: kilogram to short ton (US)
| kilogram | short ton (US) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.00011023 |
| 0.5 | 0.00055116 |
| 1 | 0.00110231 |
| 2 | 0.00220462 |
| 5 | 0.00551156 |
| 10 | 0.01102311 |
| 25 | 0.02755778 |
| 50 | 0.05511557 |
| 100 | 0.11023113 |
| 250 | 0.27557783 |
| 500 | 0.55115566 |
| 1,000 | 1.10231131 |
Common values
| kilogram | short ton (US) | |
|---|---|---|
| A paperclip | 1 kilogram | 0.00110231 short ton (US) |
| A smartphone | 175 kilogram | 0.19290448 short ton (US) |
| A bag of sugar | 1 kilogram | 0.00110231 short ton (US) |
| Average adult human | 70 kilogram | 0.07716179 short ton (US) |
| A small car | 1,200 kilogram | 1.32277357 short ton (US) |