Pound Converter

About Pounds (lb)

The pound (symbol: lb or lbm), specifically the avoirdupois pound, is a unit of mass in the imperial and United States customary systems. It is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms. The avoirdupois pound is equivalent to 16 avoirdupois ounces.

The term "pound" derives from the Roman "libra pondo" (a pound by weight). Throughout history, various pound units existed across Europe. The avoirdupois system, which includes the pound, ounce, and grain, became prominent in English-speaking countries for general commerce. The troy pound (used for precious metals and gemstones) and the apothecaries' pound (used in medicine) are different units with different subdivisions, though they share the same grain.

Pounds are commonly used for:

• Measuring human body weight in countries like the United States.
• Quantifying food products (e.g., a pound of butter, a 5 lb bag of potatoes).
• Shipping weights for packages and freight.
• Measuring the force of an object in pounds-force (lbf), though this converter deals with mass (lbm).
• Informal measurements of everyday objects.

• 1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz)
• 1 pound (lb) = 7,000 grains (gr)
• 1 stone = 14 pounds (lb)
• 1 short hundredweight (US cwt) = 100 pounds (lb)
• 1 short ton (US ton) = 2,000 pounds (lb)
• 1 pound (lb) ≈ 453.592 grams (g)

To help visualize a pound:

• A standard can of soda (12 fl oz) weighs a bit less than a pound (around 0.8 lb including the can).
• A loaf of bread often weighs around 1 pound.
• A block of butter is typically 1/4 lb or 1/2 lb.
• A pair of adult running shoes might weigh around 1 to 1.5 pounds.