Use this shipping weight converter to convert kg, lb, oz, tonnes, short tons, long tons, and hundredweight.
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Shipping & freight
Convert shipping weight units
Compare parcel and freight weights across metric, pound-based, and bulk-carrier units without losing the practical handling context.
Planning note Carrier breakpoints vary by service, destination, packaging, and contract terms. The threshold notes here are practical planning bands, not a substitute for the live rules of a specific carrier.
Optional DIM weight check
Add package dimensions to compare actual weight with dimensional weight and estimate which value may drive billable shipping weight.
Result
Enter a shipment weight Provide a non-negative value to compare parcel, freight, and bulk weight units.
Shipping weight converter: kilograms, pounds, tonnes, and freight thresholds explained
A shipping weight converter keeps one shipment mass consistent while the labels around it change between parcel, freight, and bulk-handling workflows. That matters because a weight shown in kilograms on one document may need to be compared with pounds, short tons, long tons, or hundredweight on another.
Why shipping weight needs more than a generic mass conversion
A general mass converter can tell you the number in another unit, but shipping decisions often depend on where the weight sits relative to handling bands that carriers and warehouses care about. Parcel services, manual handling, pallet planning, and freight quotes do not all use the same language or breakpoints.
That is why this tool keeps metric, pound-based, and freight units visible together and adds practical threshold notes. The purpose is not to replace a live carrier tariff, but to make it easier to sanity-check whether a shipment still behaves like a parcel or is drifting into freight-style handling.
The exact relationships behind the freight units
The converter normalises every value through kilograms. The pound is defined exactly as 0.45359237 kilograms, which makes the ounce exactly 0.028349523125 kilograms. From the same definition, a US short ton is exactly 2,000 pounds, a UK long ton is exactly 2,240 pounds, a US hundredweight is 100 pounds, and a UK hundredweight is 112 pounds.
Those exact definitions matter because freight units often appear close together in practice. A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms, which is heavier than a short ton but lighter than a long ton. If you are comparing warehouse instructions, commodity notes, or older shipping documents, a converter that keeps those distinctions explicit is safer than relying on rounded memory.
1 lb = 0.45359237 kg
Exact international-pound definition used as the shared base.
1 short ton = 2,000 lb = 907.18474 kg
US freight ton relationship derived from the exact pound.
1 long ton = 2,240 lb = 1016.0469088 kg
UK long-ton relationship used in older and maritime contexts.
How to interpret the planning thresholds
The threshold bands in the live tool are practical orientation markers only. Around 31.5 kilograms or 70 pounds, many parcel workflows start to trigger heavier-handling rules. Around 68 kilograms or 150 pounds, the conversation often shifts more clearly toward pallet, LTL, or freight handling. Those bands are useful for planning, but the exact rule still depends on the carrier, service, route, packaging, and contract.
That means the converter is best used to frame the decision before you book or quote. It can tell you that a shipment labelled as 68 kilograms is also 150 pounds and roughly 1.49 US hundredweight, which is enough to understand why a service class or surcharge may change even though the physical shipment has not.
Actual weight, dimensional weight, and billable weight
Carrier pages and dimensional-weight calculators make one point very clear: shipping weight is not always the scale weight. If a package is large for its mass, the carrier may calculate a dimensional or volumetric weight from length, width, and height, then charge by whichever is higher: actual weight or dimensional weight. That higher value is often called billable weight or chargeable weight.
The optional DIM-weight check in this converter uses the same practical idea. Enter the actual package weight, add dimensions, and choose a common DIM divisor such as 139 in³/lb, 166 in³/lb, or 5000 cm³/kg. The result shows actual weight, dimensional weight, likely billable weight, and whether reducing box size is likely to matter more than reducing product mass.
DIM weight (lb) = length × width × height ÷ 139
Common inch-pound parcel planning divisor used for many UPS/FedEx-style workflows.
DIM weight (kg) = length × width × height ÷ 5000
Common centimetre-based volumetric divisor used in many international parcel and air workflows.
Planning rule behind the calculator's actual-vs-DIM comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a metric tonne and a short ton?
A metric tonne is exactly 1,000 kilograms. A US short ton is exactly 2,000 pounds, which equals 907.18474 kilograms. The metric tonne is therefore about 92.8 kilograms heavier than a short ton.
When does a parcel become freight?
There is no single worldwide cut-off. Many workflows start to change around 31.5 kg (70 lb) and more clearly around 68 kg (150 lb), but the exact threshold depends on the carrier, service, packaging, and contract terms.
Why do hundredweight units still appear in shipping?
Hundredweight remains common in commodity, warehouse, and freight pricing language. In the US it equals 100 lb; in the UK it equals 112 lb, so the jurisdiction still matters.
Can this converter replace a carrier quote or tariff?
No. It converts units and provides planning context only. The actual service limit, surcharge, and eligibility rules still come from the specific carrier or freight provider.
What is dimensional weight in shipping?
Dimensional weight, also called DIM weight or volumetric weight, estimates a package's billing weight from its length, width, and height. It matters when a package is bulky but light, because the carrier may charge for the space it occupies rather than the scale weight alone.
What is billable weight?
Billable weight is the weight a carrier is likely to rate for pricing. In many parcel workflows it is the higher of actual weight and dimensional weight, though rounding, service rules, contracts, and carrier-specific exceptions can still change the final billed value.
Which DIM divisor should I use?
Use the divisor published by the carrier and service you are quoting. The calculator includes common planning options such as 139 in³/lb, 166 in³/lb, and 5000 cm³/kg because those show up frequently in parcel and international shipping guidance, but live carrier rules and account terms are authoritative.
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