Convert South Asian Tola to Kilogram in seconds.
1 tola x 0.0116638 = 0.0116638 kg
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If you've ever bought gold jewelry in India or Pakistan, you’ve probably heard vendors mention "Tola" more often than grams or kilograms. This traditional unit carries centuries of history in its measurements, yet many modern users need to convert it to kilograms for international trade, recipe scaling, or scientific purposes. Let’s explore how these two measurement worlds connect.
Unit definitions
What is a South Asian Tola (tola)?
Description: A traditional mass unit deeply rooted in South Asian commerce, especially for precious metals and ayurvedic medicines.
Symbol: tola
Common uses: Gold/silver trading, traditional medicine preparation, cultural ceremonies
Definition: 1 standardized Tola = 11.6638 grams (exactly 180 grains)
What is a kilogram (kg)?
Description: The base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI)
Symbol: kg
Common uses: Global trade, scientific research, engineering
Definition: Equal to the mass of the international prototype kilogram kept at BIPM in France
Conversion formula
The magic number connecting these units: 1 Tola = 0.0116638 Kilograms
To convert Tola to kg: Kilograms = Tola × 0.0116638
To convert kg to Tola: Tola = Kilograms ÷ 0.0116638
Example calculations
Example 1: Your grandmother’s gold necklace weighs 5.5 Tola. In kilograms: 5.5 × 0.0116638 = 0.0641509 kg
Example 2: A 2kg sack of turmeric needs traditional measurement: 2 ÷ 0.0116638 ≈ 171.47 Tola
Conversion tables
Tola to kilograms
| Tola | Kilograms |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.0116638 |
| 2 | 0.0233276 |
| 3 | 0.0349914 |
| 4 | 0.0466552 |
| 5 | 0.058319 |
| 10 | 0.116638 |
| 25 | 0.291595 |
| 50 | 0.58319 |
| 100 | 1.16638 |
Kilograms to Tola
| Kilograms | Tola |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 8.57353 |
| 0.5 | 42.8676 |
| 1 | 85.7353 |
| 2 | 171.471 |
| 5 | 428.676 |
| 10 | 857.353 |
Historical background
The Tola’s origins trace back to ancient Vedic measurement systems, where it represented the weight of 100 ratti seeds. Those tiny red seeds from the Gunja plant still used in traditional balance scales. During the British Raj, the Tola was standardized to 180 troy grains (about 11.6638 grams) to align with imperial measurements, creating that specific conversion factor we use today.
Fun fact: Some old merchant families still keep brass Tola weights passed down through generations, though most have switched to digital scales now. The transition to metric hasn’t been completely smooth. I once saw a market vendor accidentally multiply instead of divide when converting Tola to grams, temporarily offering gold at bargain prices!
Interesting facts?
- The word "Tola" comes from Sanskrit "Tolā" meaning "weight"
- 1 Tola of gold equals exactly 10 Bhari (another traditional unit)
- Nepal officially recognizes Tola in its measurement system
- International diamond traders often convert Tola to carats (1 Tola ≈ 56.732 carats)
- Ayurvedic practitioners still prescribe medicines in Tola measurements
FAQ
Tola remains popular in South Asian gold markets due to cultural heritage and historical trade practices dating back centuries.
Our tool uses the standardized 1 Tola = 0.0116638 kg ratio recognized by international measurement authorities.
Absolutely! Just divide kilograms by 0.0116638 to get the Tola equivalent.
While generally consistent, some regional variations existed historically. Modern usage follows the standardized 11.6638 grams per Tola.
Kilograms are universally preferred in official trade documents, though Tola is still used regionally for cultural transactions.