Convert russian pood to kilogram easily.

Ever stumbled upon the term "pood" in an old Russian recipe or a historical text and wondered how heavy that actually is? You’re not alone. The Russian pood is one of those units that feels almost mythical today, yet it was once as commonplace as kilograms are now. Let’s demystify this unit and make converting pood to kilogram as easy as borscht on a winter day.

Units defined

What is a russian pood (pood)?

The pood is a traditional Russian unit of mass that dates back to the 12th century. Symbol: pood. Commonly used in agriculture, trade, and even fitness (ever heard of Russian kettlebells?), one pood equals exactly 16.3807 kilograms. It’s part of the old Russian system that included units like zolotnik and berkovets. While no longer official, you’ll still hear it in niche contexts—like when your babushka talks about “10 poods of potatoes.”

What is a kilogram (kg)?

The kilogram is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI). Symbol: kg. Used globally for everything from grocery shopping to rocket science, it’s defined by the Planck constant since 2019. One kilogram is roughly the mass of a liter of water. Simple, modern, and precise—the antithesis of the pood.

Conversion formula

To convert pood to kilogram, multiply the number of poods by 16.3807. For example:

• 3 poods = 3 × 16.3807 = 49.1421 kg
• 0.5 pood = 0.5 × 16.3807 = 8.1904 kg

Going the other way? Divide kilograms by 16.3807 to get poods:

• 20 kg = 20 ÷ 16.3807 ≈ 1.2209 poods

Conversion tables

Pood to kilogram

Kilogram to pood

Historical background

The pood’s roots stretch back to medieval Russia, where it was used alongside other units like the zolotnik (about 4.26 grams) and berkovets (10 poods). By the 18th century, it became standardized under Peter the Great’s reforms, though regional variations persisted. The Soviet Union officially retired the pood in teh 1920s during metrication drives, but its cultural imprint lingered. Ever seen a 16 kg kettlebell? That’s no coincidence, it’s roughly 1 pood, a nod to Russia’s weightlifting heritage.

Interesting facts...

1. Kettlebells and poods: Russian kettlebells are often labeled in poods. A “1-pood kettlebell” weighs 16 kg, making it a staple in gyms worldwide.
2. Literary weight: Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace mentions poods when describing grain supplies—proof of its everyday role in 19th-century life.
3. Etymology: The word “pood” likely comes from Old Norse pund (pound), showing Viking trade influences.
4. Metric resistance: Some Russian markets still use poods for nostalgic or practical reasons, like measuring bulk grains.
5. Space oddity: In 1960, Soviet rocket engineers had to convert poods to kilograms when collaborating with international teams—talk about a unit conversion with stakes!

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