A pound, abbreviated as "b," is a unit of weight commonly used in the United States and a few other countries that follow the imperial system. The term "pound" comes from the Latin word libra, which is why the abbreviation is "lb.”
One pound is equal to 16 ounces or approximately 0.4536 kilograms in the metric system. It's often used for measuring body weight, grocery items, shipping packages, and more in everyday American life.
The pound dates back to Roman times and has evolved through various systems. The current definition used in the U.S. is based on the avoirdupois system, which standardizes one pound as 16 ounces. This system has been in use in English-speaking countries since the 14th century.
How is the Pound Used Today: The pound plays a central role in both consumer life and various industries across the U.S. and the UK. From shopping to science, it's a standard unit for weight measurement when using the imperial system.
A stone is a unit of weight used primarily in the United Kingdom and Ireland to measure body weight. One stone equals 14 pounds or approx. 6.35 kilograms. It's not part of the official metric or imperial systems, but it remains a widely recognized standard in health, fitness, and everyday conversation in the UK. If someone says they weigh "11 stone," they mean 154 pounds (11 × 14).
The stone has historical roots going back to ancient Europe, where stones of specific weight were used in trade. Over time, England standardized the stone to mean 14 pounds in 1835, and that value is still used today. While most countries have adopted the metric system, the stone remains part of British culture—primarily when referring to personal weight.
How is the Stone Used: The stone is most commonly used to express body weight in the UK and Ireland. You'll often hear weights given in stone and pounds together, like "11 stone 4 pounds" instead of 158 pounds or 71.6 kg. It's rarely used in scientific, industrial, or commercial applications today. The metric system has replaced it in those contexts.
1 lb = 0.071429 st
Let’s say you want to convert 100 lb to st.
Using the formula:
100 × 0.071429 = 7.143 st
So, 100 lb is approximately 7.143 st.
| Pound (lb) | Stone (st) |
|---|---|
| 1 lb | 0.071 st |
| 2 lb | 0.143 st |
| 3 lb | 0.214 st |
| 4 lb | 0.286 st |
| 5 lb | 0.357 st |
| 6 lb | 0.429 st |
| 7 lb | 0.5 st |
| 8 lb | 0.571 st |
| 9 lb | 0.643 st |
| 10 lb | 0.714 st |
| 11 lb | 0.786 st |
| 12 lb | 0.857 st |
| 13 lb | 0.929 st |
| 14 lb | 1 st |
| 15 lb | 1.071 st |