Pounds to Kilograms Conversion Calculator

Pound (lb) to Kilogram (kg) Converter

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

Pound (lb)
Kilogram (kg)

Conversion Result

1 lb=
1.000 kg

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
10.45Medium apple
2.21Bag of sugar
52.27Bag of flour
104.54Small cat
209.07Medium bowling ball
5022.68Standard car tire
10045.36Small adult
15068.04Average 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.