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:
A US ton, also known as a short ton, is a unit of weight used primarily in the United States. One US ton equals exactly 2,000 pounds or approximately 907.1847 kilograms. It's commonly used in industries like freight, construction, and agriculture to measure large quantities of weight, mostly bulk goods. The US ton is not the same as the imperial ton (also called the long ton) or the metric tonne, so it's important to understand the distinction when converting.
The concept of a "ton" comes from the old term "tun," which referred to a large barrel used for shipping wine. Over time, the word evolved into a unit of weight. The United States standardized the ton to 2,000 pounds, distinguishing it from the British imperial long ton (2,240 pounds) and the metric tonne (1,000 kg).
Today, the US ton remains part of the customary system of units used throughout the country.
How Is the US Ton Used: The US ton is a practical unit for expressing large-scale weight, especially in commercial, agricultural, and industrial sectors. It's widely used for:
1 t = 1.102311 US ton
Let’s say you want to convert 100 t to US ton.
Using the formula:
100 × 1.102311 = 110.231 US ton
So, 100 t is approximately 110.231 US ton.
| Tonne (t) | US Ton (US ton) |
|---|---|
| 1 t | 1.102 US ton |
| 2 t | 2.205 US ton |
| 3 t | 3.307 US ton |
| 4 t | 4.409 US ton |
| 5 t | 5.512 US ton |
| 6 t | 6.614 US ton |
| 7 t | 7.716 US ton |
| 8 t | 8.818 US ton |
| 9 t | 9.921 US ton |
| 10 t | 11.023 US ton |
| 11 t | 12.125 US ton |
| 12 t | 13.228 US ton |
| 13 t | 14.33 US ton |
| 14 t | 15.432 US ton |
| 15 t | 16.535 US ton |