How many pounds are in a kilogram?
One kilogram equals about 2.205 pounds. To convert kilograms to pounds, multiply by 2.2. To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.2, or multiply by 0.4536.
The pound is legally defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms, a value agreed by English-speaking countries in 1959. That means one kilogram is about 2.20462 pounds. For everyday purposes, rounding to 2.2 pounds per kilogram is accurate enough.
Some examples help: a person weighing 70 kilograms weighs about 154 pounds, and a 10-pound bag of potatoes weighs about 4.5 kilograms. In kitchen recipes, 1 pound of butter is about 454 grams, and 500 grams is about 1.1 pounds.
Who uses pounds?
The United States uses pounds for most everyday weights, including body weight and groceries. The United Kingdom officially uses kilograms, but many people still state their weight in stones and pounds. Most other countries use only kilograms in daily life.
Did You Know?
A handy trick for converting kilograms to pounds in your head is to double the number and add 10 percent. For 50 kilograms: 100 plus 10 gives about 110 pounds.