What is a metric ton (or tonne)?
A metric ton, also known as a tonne, is a unit of mass in the metric system equal to 1,000 kilograms or approximately 2,204.62 pounds. It is commonly used in international trade and commerce as a standard unit for measuring large quantities of goods such as minerals, agricultural products, and industrial materials. The metric ton is preferred over the traditional ton (short ton) in most countries due to its simplicity and consistency with the metric system.
The metric ton is widely used in industries such as shipping, manufacturing, and agriculture for its ease of conversion and compatibility with other metric units. It is important to note that the metric ton should not be confused with the ton (short ton) used in the United States, which is equivalent to 2,000 pounds.
What are pounds?
Pounds are a unit of weight commonly used in the United States and some other countries, where 1 pound is equivalent to approximately 0.4536 kilograms. It is often used to measure smaller items or quantities, such as groceries, personal weight, or packages.
We provide a conversion calculator on this site for pounds to kilograms.
