US CustomarySI Ratio: 907.18474 kg

US Ton (Short Ton) (ton)

A US short ton equals exactly 2,000 pounds (907.18474 kg).

Definition & Scientific Metrology

In the United States, whenever the word "ton" is used without qualification, it refers to the Short Ton of 2,000 pounds (approx 0.907 metric tons).

SI Kilogram Base Factor

1 ton = 907.18474 kg

Origins & Historical Evolution

Adapted from the British tun cask of wine, simplified to 2,000 avoirdupois pounds in North America.

1 US Ton (Short Ton) in Other Mass Units

Direct standard conversion equivalents for 1 ton:

Target Unit	Equivalent Value	Multiplier Equation
Pounds (lbs)	2,000	`1 ton × 2000`
Kilograms (kg)	907.185	`1 ton × 907.18474`
Metric Tons (t)	0.907	`1 ton × 0.90718474`
Imperial Long Tons	0.893	`1 ton × 0.892857`

Common Real-World Applications

US truck payload limits and gravel/sand delivery
Automotive curb weight classifications
HVAC air conditioning cooling capacity (1 ton of cooling = 12,000 BTU/hr)

Did You Know?

Interesting Metrology Facts

💡

A typical midsize SUV weighs around 2 US tons (4,000 lbs).

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The Short Ton is 10% lighter than a Metric Ton.

Measurement Standards & Accuracy

Standard Multipliers

Factors based on the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement and NIST SP 811.

Sources

BIPM International Metrology Treaty
NIST Guide for SI Units
ISO 80000-4 Quantities and Units — Mass

Accuracy & Policy

Standard Exact Multipliers (e.g., 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg)

Reviewed: October 2026 • About our methodology →

Related Tools & Resources for US Ton (Short Ton)

Discover calculation widgets, unit comparisons, and printable lookup sheets for ton:

Official Citations & External References for US Ton (Short Ton)

Sources

Direct links to BIPM, NIST, and international metrology bodies:

Official Government (US/UK)nist.gov

NIST Special Publication 811: Guide for the Use of the SI

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Official US government guidelines for converting between US Customary and SI metric units with exact precision factors.

Official Government (US/UK)nist.gov

NIST Handbook 44: Specifications and Tolerances for Weighing and Measuring Devices

NIST Office of Weights and Measures (OWM)

Legal metrology standards governing commercial scales, mass measurement thresholds, and trade weights in the United States.

Encyclopedia Referenceen.wikipedia.org

Tonne (Metric Ton) & Imperial Ton Variations

Wikipedia

Comparisons between the metric tonne (1,000 kg), US short ton (2,000 lbs), and Imperial long ton (2,240 lbs).