The Imperial ton, also known as the long ton, is a unit of mass used primarily in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. One imperial ton is equal to 2,240 pounds, or approximately 1,016.05 kilograms. This makes it heavier than both the US ton (short ton, 2,000 pounds) and the metric tonne (1,000 kilograms).
The imperial ton originated in the British Imperial system and dates back to times when goods were transported in large barrels or "tuns." These barrels typically held about 2,240 pounds of product—hence the origin of the long ton.
The unit was officially adopted as part of the British Imperial system in the 19th century. Though it's no longer widely used in trade or industry, it still appears in naval shipping, mining, and some historical references in the UK.
How Is the Imperial Ton Used: Today, the imperial ton is used less frequently due to the global adoption of the metric system. However, it remains relevant in:
A tonne, also known as a metric ton, is a unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms or approximately 2,204.62 pounds. It's the standard ton used in most countries that follow the metric system, including Europe, Asia, Australia, and many parts of Africa. Unlike the US ton (short ton, 2,000 lbs) or the UK imperial ton (long ton, 2,240 lbs), the tonne is based on powers of ten, making it more consistent with the metric system. It's used in industries where large-scale weight measurement is common, such as shipping, agriculture, and waste management.
The tonne originated in France in the 18th century as part of the adoption of the metric system. The word comes from the French word "tonneau," which referred to a large cask used for transporting wine or oil.
It became widely accepted across Europe and eventually by the International System of Units (SI). Today, it's the standard unit for mass in global trade, environmental reporting, and scientific documentation.
How is the Tonne Used: The tonne is used to measure very large weights where smaller units like kilograms or pounds would be impractical. You'll find it commonly used in:
1 Imperial ton = 1.016047 t
Let’s say you want to convert 100 Imperial ton to t.
Using the formula:
100 × 1.016047 = 101.605 t
So, 100 Imperial ton is approximately 101.605 t.
| Imperial Ton (Imperial ton) | Tonne (t) |
|---|---|
| 1 Imperial ton | 1.016 t |
| 2 Imperial ton | 2.032 t |
| 3 Imperial ton | 3.048 t |
| 4 Imperial ton | 4.064 t |
| 5 Imperial ton | 5.08 t |
| 6 Imperial ton | 6.096 t |
| 7 Imperial ton | 7.112 t |
| 8 Imperial ton | 8.128 t |
| 9 Imperial ton | 9.144 t |
| 10 Imperial ton | 10.16 t |
| 11 Imperial ton | 11.177 t |
| 12 Imperial ton | 12.193 t |
| 13 Imperial ton | 13.209 t |
| 14 Imperial ton | 14.225 t |
| 15 Imperial ton | 15.241 t |