A ton can refer to different units of mass depending on the system used:
- Short ton (US ton): 2,000 pounds, which is approximately 907.2 kilograms. This is commonly used in the United States and some industries in Canada
- Long ton (Imperial ton or UK ton): 2,240 pounds, about 1,016 kilograms. This is used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and some Commonwealth countries
- Metric ton (tonne): Exactly 1,000 kilograms, or about 2,204.6 pounds. This is the international metric unit and is widely used worldwide
In order from lightest to heaviest: short ton < metric ton < long ton
. Thus, the exact weight of a "ton" depends on the context and country, but the most common references are:
Type| Pounds| Kilograms
---|---|---
Short ton| 2,000 lbs| 907.2 kg
Metric ton| 2,204.6 lbs| 1,000 kg
Long ton| 2,240 lbs| 1,016 kg
If you need a specific ton, be sure to clarify which system is being used.
