Kilograms to Pounds Converter

The kg to lbs formula

The international pound is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms. To convert kilograms to pounds divide by that number, which is the same as multiplying by about 2.2046226218. To convert pounds to kilograms, multiply by 0.45359237.

lb = kg ÷ 0.45359237 ≈ kg × 2.20462262
kg = lb × 0.45359237
1 lb = 16 oz  ·  1 st = 14 lb

Worked examples

Example 1: a body weight of 70 kg

70 ÷ 0.45359237 = 154.3236 lb. In stone: 154.32 ÷ 14 = 11 st with 0.32 lb left over, so 11 st 0.3 lb.

Example 2: a 23 kg luggage allowance

23 ÷ 0.45359237 = 50.7063 lb, which is why many airlines describe the same limit as 23 kg or 50 lb.

Example 3: a newborn weighing 3.4 kg

3.4 ÷ 0.45359237 = 7.4957 lb. The 0.4957 lb is 0.4957 × 16 = 7.93 oz, so the baby is about 7 lb 8 oz.

Example 4: a 225 lb barbell

225 × 0.45359237 = 102.0583 kg. Gym plates come in both systems, so a "100 kg" bar is noticeably lighter than 225 lb.

Kilograms to pounds table

Pounds to kilograms table

Stone to kilograms

Estimating in your head

Double the kilograms and add 10%: 70 kg → 140 + 14 = 154 lb, almost exactly right because 2.2 is so close to 2.2046. Going back, halve the pounds and subtract 10% of the half: 150 lb → 75 − 7.5 = 67.5 kg (exact: 68.04 kg). For a quicker but rougher guess, simply halve pounds or double kilograms.

Common uses

The kilogram–pound conversion comes up when reading scales and fitness apps set to the other system, comparing airline baggage rules, following international recipes that weigh ingredients, recording a baby's birth weight for relatives abroad, buying produce priced per kilogram versus per pound, and loading gym bars with mixed plates. Veterinary and medical doses are often per kilogram of body weight, so owners in the US frequently need a pet's weight in kg — ask the vet to confirm before giving any medicine. For tonnes, ounces and other masses, use the general weight converter.

Precision and rounding

The tool shows four decimal places, far finer than any household scale. Round body weight to a tenth of a kilogram or pound, and luggage to the nearest whole unit. Note that pounds-and-ounces and stone breakdowns round the leftover part to two decimals. When tracking progress over time, convert once and stay in one unit, because repeated rounding back and forth can make small changes look like gains or losses. To see a change as a percentage, the percentage change calculator works in any unit.

Body weight, scales and daily variation

Body weight naturally swings by one to two kilograms (two to four pounds) over a day as you eat, drink and lose water, so a single reading converted to four decimal places overstates what the scale can tell you. For tracking, weigh at the same time of day on the same scale, record in whichever unit the scale shows, and convert averages rather than individual readings. Bathroom scales sold in the UK often display stone and pounds, in the US pounds, and elsewhere kilograms; many can be switched between them using a button underneath, which avoids converting at all.