Convert kg to lbs

Kilograms to pounds: the formula and an example

To convert kilograms to pounds, multiply by 2.20462262: lb = kg × 2.20462262. Example: 70 kg × 2.20462262 = 154.32 lb. The factor comes from the legal definition of the pound, exactly 0.45359237 kg.

The converter on this page is already set to kg to lbs. The answer appears as you type, the formula is written below it and a table gives the same weight in grams, ounces and stones. The swap button turns it into lbs to kg. Results are rounded to six significant figures.

kg to lbs conversion chart

Body weight, babies, luggage: reading a weight given in kilos

Body weight. A scale abroad or a medical form in kilograms is easy to translate: 70 kg is 154 lb, 80 kg is 176 lb, 100 kg is 220 lb.

Stones and pounds. In the UK and Ireland, body weight is given in stones, with 1 stone = 14 lb. Convert to pounds, divide by 14, keep the whole number as stones and the remainder as pounds. For 70 kg: 154.32 ÷ 14 = 11 with 0.32 left over, so 11 st 0 lb.

Babies. A birth weight of 3.5 kg is 7.716 lb. Keep the 7 lb, then multiply the decimal part by 16, since 1 lb = 16 oz: 0.716 × 16 = 11.46 oz. That baby weighs 7 lb 11 oz.

Luggage. International airlines often allow 23 kg per checked bag, which is 50.7 lb. US carriers usually say 50 lb, or 22.68 kg, so a bag packed to exactly 23 kg can be over the limit on a domestic leg.

Mental math: double it and add 10%

Double the kilos, then add a tenth of what you get. For 70 kg: 140 + 14 = 154 lb, against an exact 154.32 lb. You are only 0.32 lb short, about 0.2%, because the shortcut multiplies by 2.2 instead of 2.2046.

Frequently asked questions

Is a pound the same everywhere?

The pound used in the US and the UK has been identical since a 1959 international agreement: 0.45359237 kg. Be careful in continental Europe, though. At a French market "une livre" means 500 g, and so does a German "Pfund". Neither is the 453.59 g pound.

Is it lb or lbs?

The official symbol is lb, from the Latin word "libra", and it does not change in the plural. Writing lbs is a common habit in everyday English. Both mean the same unit.

How many pounds are in a kilogram, exactly?

1 kg = 2.20462262 lb, to eight decimal places. The reverse is exact by definition: 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg.