Kg to Lbs Converter
Convert either way, with stones and pounds for body weight.
- Kilograms—
- Pounds—
- Pounds and ounces—
- Grams—
- Ounces—
- US tons—
How to use this converter
- Choose the direction. Kilograms to pounds, pounds to kilograms, or stones and pounds to kilograms for body weight.
- Type the figure. Everything updates as you type.
- Read whichever form you need from the list underneath, including stones, pounds and ounces, grams and US tons.
The kg to lbs formula
The relationship is defined exactly: one pound is precisely 0.45359237 kilograms, fixed by international agreement in 1959. The familiar 2.20462 is that figure inverted and rounded, which is accurate enough for anything short of laboratory work.
Doing it in your head
Multiplying by 2.2 gets you within one percent, which is fine for most purposes. For a closer estimate, double the kilograms and add ten percent of that doubled figure. For 70 kg: double to 140, add 14, giving 154 lb. The exact answer is 154.32 lb.
Going the other way, halve the pounds and knock off ten percent. For 154 lb: halve to 77, subtract 7.7, giving 69.3 kg. True answer 69.85 kg, so this one runs slightly low but is close enough to be useful.
A worked example
Convert 70 kg to pounds.
- Multiply by the factor. 70 × 2.20462 = 154.32 lb
- Convert to stones for body weight. 154.32 ÷ 14 = 11 stones with 0.32 left over, so 11 st 0.3 lb.
Stones, and why they only exist in some places
One stone is 14 pounds. It is still the normal way to state body weight in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where someone would say “eleven stone” rather than 154 pounds or 70 kilograms.
The United States uses pounds alone for body weight and has effectively abandoned the stone. Most of the rest of the world uses kilograms. This means the same person is 70 kg in France, 154 lb in America and 11 stone in Britain, which is why this converter shows all three at once.
The stone was historically far from fixed, varying by trade and commodity from 5 pounds for glass to 14 for wool, before being standardised at 14 in 1835.
Quick reference table
| Kilograms | Pounds | Stones and pounds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kg | 2.20 lb | 0 st 2.2 lb |
| 5 kg | 11.02 lb | 0 st 11.0 lb |
| 10 kg | 22.05 lb | 1 st 8.0 lb |
| 20 kg | 44.09 lb | 3 st 2.1 lb |
| 50 kg | 110.23 lb | 7 st 12.2 lb |
| 60 kg | 132.28 lb | 9 st 6.3 lb |
| 70 kg | 154.32 lb | 11 st 0.3 lb |
| 80 kg | 176.37 lb | 12 st 8.4 lb |
| 90 kg | 198.42 lb | 14 st 2.4 lb |
| 100 kg | 220.46 lb | 15 st 10.5 lb |
Mass or weight?
Strictly, kilograms and pounds as used here measure mass, which is how much matter something contains. Weight is the force gravity exerts on that mass, properly measured in newtons.
In everyday use nobody makes this distinction, and bathroom scales are labelled in kilograms or pounds regardless. It only matters when gravity changes: an 80 kg astronaut still has 80 kg of mass in orbit but weighs effectively nothing. On Earth the two track each other exactly, so the conversion above is reliable for all ordinary purposes.
There is also a separate unit called the pound-force, used in engineering, which is genuinely a force rather than a mass. If you meet it in a specification, it is not the same pound as the one on your scales.
Where you will need this
- Air travel. Baggage limits are quoted in kilograms by most of the world and pounds by US carriers, and excess baggage charges are steep.
- Shipping hardware. Couriers switch between units depending on the route, and a declared weight in the wrong unit will be rejected.
- Fitness equipment. Plates and dumbbells come in both, and a 45 lb plate is not the same as a 20 kg one, though gyms often treat them as interchangeable.
- Medical dosing. Drug doses are calculated per kilogram of body weight, so a weight recorded in pounds has to be converted first.
- Recipes. American recipes give meat in pounds while European scales read grams.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert kg to lbs?
Multiply the kilograms by 2.20462. For example, 70 kg x 2.20462 gives 154.32 pounds. To go the other way, divide the pounds by 2.20462.
How many pounds is 70 kg?
70 kilograms is 154.32 pounds, which is 11 stone 0.3 pounds.
What is the exact conversion between kilograms and pounds?
One pound is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms by international agreement. The commonly used 2.20462 is that number inverted and rounded, and is accurate enough for everyday purposes.
How many pounds are in a stone?
Fourteen. One stone equals 14 pounds, or about 6.35 kilograms. The stone is still used for body weight in the UK and Ireland but not in the United States.
How do I convert kg to lbs in my head?
Double the kilograms and add ten percent of that result. For 70 kg, double to 140 and add 14, giving 154 pounds. The exact answer is 154.32, so the estimate is close.
Is a kilogram bigger than a pound?
Yes, considerably. One kilogram is about 2.2 pounds, so a kilogram is more than twice as heavy as a pound.
What is the difference between mass and weight?
Mass is how much matter an object contains and is measured in kilograms or pounds. Weight is the force gravity exerts on that mass and is properly measured in newtons. On Earth the two track each other, so the distinction rarely matters in daily use.
How do I convert stones and pounds to kilograms?
Multiply the stones by 14, add any extra pounds, then divide the total by 2.20462. For 11 stone 4 pounds: 11 x 14 = 154, plus 4 is 158 pounds, which is 71.67 kg.