Convert kilograms to pounds in seconds.
1 kg x 2.20462 = 2.20462 lb
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Ever tried baking a cake using a recipe that lists flour in pounds when your kitchen scale only does kilograms? Or maybe you’ve stared at gym equipment labeled in unfamiliar units while traveling. Converting kilograms to pounds doesn’t have to feel like solving a riddle. Let’s break it down so you can switch between these units as smoothly as flipping a pancake.
Unit definitions
What is a kilogram (kg)?
- Description: The kilogram is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI).
- Symbol: kg
- Common uses: Science, engineering, and everyday measurements worldwide (except in a few countries).
- Definition: Since 2019, it’s defined by the fixed numerical value of the Planck constant (6.62607015×10⁻³⁴ J·s).
What is a pound (lb)?
- Description: A pound is a unit of weight in the imperial system.
- Symbol: lb
- Common uses: Body weight measurements in the US, packaging labels, and sports equipment.
- Definition: Legally defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms since 1959.
Conversion formula
To convert kilograms to pounds:
pounds = kilograms × 2.20462
To convert pounds to kilograms:
kilograms = pounds ÷ 2.20462
Example calculations
- Converting 5 kg to lbs:
5 kg × 2.20462 = 11.0231 lbs
(That’s roughly the weight of a chihuahua!) - Converting 10 lbs to kg:
10 lbs ÷ 2.20462 ≈ 4.5359 kg
(About the mass of a large pineapple.)
Conversion tables
Kilograms to pounds
| Kilograms | Pounds |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2.2046 |
| 2 | 4.4092 |
| 3 | 6.6139 |
| 4 | 8.8185 |
| 5 | 11.0231 |
| 6 | 13.2277 |
| 7 | 15.4324 |
| 8 | 17.6370 |
| 9 | 19.8416 |
| 10 | 22.0462 |
Pounds to kilograms
| Pounds | Kilograms |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.4536 |
| 2 | 0.9072 |
| 3 | 1.3608 |
| 4 | 1.8144 |
| 5 | 2.2680 |
| 6 | 2.7216 |
| 7 | 3.1751 |
| 8 | 3.6287 |
| 9 | 4.0823 |
| 10 | 4.5359 |
Historical background
The kilogram’s story starts during the French Revolution when scientists wanted a "rational" unit based on nature. They originally defined it as the mass of one liter of water, but later created a platinum-iridium cylinder called the International Prototype Kilogram (IPK) in 1889. For 130 years, this shiny artifact in Paris was teh official kilogram—until 2019, when it was replaced by fundamental physics constants.
Pounds have a wilder history. The Roman "libra" (hence the "lb" symbol) weighed about 328 grams. Medieval Europe had dozens of pound variants until the 16th-century avoirdupois system standardized it. The current definition settled in 1959 when English-speaking countries agreed to tie it to kilograms.
Interesting facts?
- The old IPK kilogram prototype lost 50 micrograms over a century—equivalent to a grain of sand—prompting the 2019 redefinition.
- Your bathroom scale technically measures weight (force), but displays mass in pounds or kilograms assuming Earth’s gravity.
- There are 14 pounds in a stone, a unit still used in the UK for body weight.
- The abbreviation "lb" comes from the Libra constellation symbol (♎), used in ancient Roman measurements.
- If you’re 70 kg, you weigh about 154 lbs—or 11 stone if you’re in London.
FAQ
1 kilogram equals approximately 2.20462 pounds.
The exact conversion factor comes from the international agreement defining 1 pound as 0.45359237 kilograms.
Kilograms measure mass, while pounds measure weight. On Earth's surface, they're used interchangeably for practical purposes.
It comes from the Latin word "libra," a unit of weight in ancient Rome.
The United States, Liberia, and Myanmar primarily use pounds for body weight and groceries.