Supporting engineering utility
Convert member and material mass between metric tonnes, kilograms, grams, pounds, long tons, and short tons.
Enter a value in any field
Next step
Use density and geometry to estimate member mass, then convert mass to weight before applying a structural load.
Quick reference
Mass and force are kept separate so a converted pound mass is not accidentally entered as a beam load.
| From | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 1 tonne | 1,000 kg |
| 1 kg | 2.20462 lb |
| 1 short ton | 2,000 lb |
| 1 long ton | 2,240 lb |
| 1 tonne | 2,204.62 lb |
Engineering context
Mass describes the amount of matter. Weight is the force caused by gravitational acceleration. Structural loads must ultimately use force units.
At standard gravity, a mass in kilograms multiplied by 9.80665 gives weight in newtons. Divide by 1,000 for kilonewtons.
The Beam Calculator expects force, such as kN or lb-force. Convert mass to weight before using it as an applied load.
Where this conversion is used
Questions engineers ask
Kilograms measure mass. In engineering, weight is a force measured in newtons, kilonewtons, or pound-force.
One kilogram is approximately 2.20462 pounds mass.
A U.S. short ton is 2,000 lb; an imperial long ton is 2,240 lb.
Conversion factors follow SI and U.S. customary unit relationships. Rounded reference values are for convenience; the live converter uses higher-precision factors.