Pounds and US tons
The avoirdupois pound is exactly 0.45359237 kilograms (1959 agreement) and contains 16 ounces. Body weight, food and product weights in the US, and body weight alongside stone in the UK, use pounds.
The US (short) ton is exactly 2,000 pounds, or 907.18474 kilograms. Vehicle weights, truck loads, air-conditioning capacity history and US industrial quantities use short tons.
Worked example
Convert 5,000 lb: 5,000 × 0.0005 = 2.5, so 5,000 pounds is 2.5 US tons. Likewise 1,000 lb = 0.5 ton.
Estimating in your head
The factor is a short exact number, so mental math needs no rounding: multiply by 0.0005.
Going the other way
To convert US tons to pounds, divide by 0.0005 (or multiply by 2,000). The swap button between the boxes opens that page.
How this works
ton = lb × 0.0005
1 lb = 0.45359237 kg and 1 ton = 907.18474 kg, both by definition, so the factor is their ratio: 0.0005 exactly. Results drop binary floating-point noise beyond 15 significant digits and display at the precision you choose (6 significant figures by default). Copy result copies the full value.
Frequently asked
How many US tons are in a pound?
1 pound = 0.0005 US tons, exactly. The value follows from the unit definitions, so it never changes.
How do I convert pounds to US tons?
Multiply by 0.0005. For example, 1,000 lb × 0.0005 = 0.5 ton.
What is 10,000 lb in US tons?
10,000 lb = 5 ton. The table next to the converter lists more common values.
Is the result rounded?
Only on screen. The page computes with the exact definitions and removes floating-point noise past 15 significant digits; pick 3 to 12 significant figures, or use Copy result for the full value.
Sources
- NIST SP 811 Appendix B.8 — Factors for units listed alphabetically
- Federal Register 59-5442 (1959) — Refinement of values for the yard and the pound
- Wikipedia — Avoirdupois system
Reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · test vectors fixtures/units/mass/lbs-to-tons/