About the Kilograms to Tons Converter
Turning kilograms into tons depends on which ton you want. A metric ton, or tonne, is simply 1,000 kg. A US short ton is 907.18 kg, so 1,000 kg is about 1.1023 short tons. A UK long ton is 1,016.05 kg, so 1,000 kg is about 0.9842 long tons. This converter lets you choose and gives the answer at once, with pounds, ounces and grams for the same mass underneath. Use it for freight and shipping quotes, vehicle and cargo weights, grain, gravel, scrap metal and anything priced per ton. Everything runs in your browser, and the figures you type are never sent anywhere.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Kilograms to Tons Converter
- 1Type the mass in kilograms.
- 2Choose the ton you want: metric, US short or UK long.
- 3Read the tons at the top of the result.
- 4See pounds, ounces and grams in the rows below.
- 5Press Copy to copy the sentence.
The formulas
Metric tons = kg ÷ 1,000. US short tons = kg ÷ 907.18474. UK long tons = kg ÷ 1,016.0469088. Each factor follows from the exact pound, 0.45359237 kg.
Examples
- 1,000 kg = 1 tonne = 1.10231 short tons = 0.98421 long tons
- 5,000 kg = 5 tonnes = 5.51156 short tons
- 20,000 kg = 22.0462 short tons
- 100 kg = 0.1 tonne = 0.110231 short ton
Choosing the right ton
Shipping documents between countries often use metric tons, while US trucking, scrap and construction prices use short tons. A 20-tonne container load is about 22 short tons, which matters when a ramp or a bridge shows a limit in tons.
If a document only says ton, look at the country, the unit of the rest of the page, or ask. The metric ton and the short ton differ by about 10 percent.
Tips for loads and prices
Weigh in kilograms, then convert to the ton your supplier uses. A pallet of 1,100 kg is 1.1 tonnes but 1.213 US short tons. If a haulier charges per ton, ask whether tonnes or short tons are used before you compare quotes.
For small amounts, grams and ounces appear in the rows below, which helps when the same shipment is described in different units on different documents.
Phone and computer
Results update as you type, below the input on a phone. A tonne is not the same as a ton, so be careful with the unit. Reverse the sum with the Tons to Kilograms Converter, use the Pounds to Tons Converter for imperial weights, and switch other units with the KG to LBS Converter.
Features
- Metric, US short and UK long tons
- Exact definitions based on the pound (0.45359237 kg)
- Pounds, ounces and grams shown too
- Ten significant digits
- Copy button
- Private, works offline
Frequently asked questions
How many tons is 1,000 kg?
It is 1 metric ton, about 1.1023 US short tons or about 0.9842 UK long tons.
How do I convert kg to metric tons?
Divide by 1,000. So 2,500 kg is 2.5 tonnes.
How do I convert kg to US tons by hand?
Divide by 907.18474, or multiply by 0.00110231. A 5,000 kg load is about 5.51 short tons.
Which ton does a US supplier mean?
Almost always the short ton of 2,000 lb unless the quote says metric ton or tonne.
Why is my answer different from an online table?
Some tables silently assume one kind of ton. Check which one is chosen.
How many kilograms is half a ton?
Half a metric ton is 500 kg, half a short ton is about 453.6 kg and half a long ton is about 508 kg.
Does the tool upload my numbers?
No.
What if I only have grams?
Divide the grams by 1,000 to get kilograms first, then convert. The grams row also shows grams for each result.
How accurate is the conversion?
The definitions are exact, so the result is correct to the ten significant digits shown. Rounding for display is your choice.