Pounds to Kilograms Conversion Calculator
Symbol: lb (pound), kg (kilogram)
What they are:
The pound (lb) is the imperial and US customary unit of mass, while the kilogram (kg) is the base unit of mass in the metric system and the International System of Units (SI).
Conversion Facts:
- 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg
- 1 kg = 2.20462262 lb
- 100 lb ≈ 45.36 kg
- 100 kg ≈ 220.46 lb
Conversion Result
Use the converter above to calculate different values and units
Understanding Pounds and Kilograms
The pound (lb) and kilogram (kg) are units of mass used in different measurement systems. The pound is primarily used in the United States and a few other countries, while the kilogram is the standard unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI) used globally for scientific and everyday measurements.
According to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the exact conversion between these units is:
1 pound (lb) = 0.45359237 kilograms (kg)
1 kilogram (kg) = 2.20462262 pounds (lb)
Common Pounds to Kilograms Conversions
Pounds (lb) | Kilograms (kg) | Common Reference |
---|---|---|
1 | 0.45 | Medium apple |
2.2 | 1 | Bag of sugar |
5 | 2.27 | Bag of flour |
10 | 4.54 | Small cat |
20 | 9.07 | Medium bowling ball |
50 | 22.68 | Standard car tire |
100 | 45.36 | Small adult |
150 | 68.04 | Average adult male |
Practical Use Cases
- Fitness & Weight Management: Converting between body weight measurements in countries using different systems
- Cooking & Baking: Converting ingredient weights between US recipes (using pounds) and international recipes (using kilograms)
- Shopping: Understanding product weights when shopping internationally, especially for food items
- Shipping & Logistics: Converting package weights for international shipping documentation
- Sports: Understanding weight classes in combat sports, equipment weights, and lifting capabilities across different systems
- Medicine: Converting between medication dosages that might be specified in different weight units
- Travel: Understanding baggage weight limits when traveling between countries using different measurement systems
Educational Resource
This educational video explains the relationship between pounds and kilograms and demonstrates how to convert between these units with practical examples and applications.
Conversion Tools
Download Conversion Chart (PDF)Get our comprehensive pounds to kilograms conversion chart for quick reference when you're offline.
Pounds to Kilograms Conversion FAQs
Find answers to common questions about converting between pounds and kilograms.