What is a Metric Ton?

The metric ton equals 1,000 kilograms and is the international standard for shipping, agriculture, and industrial weight.

Overview

The metric ton (or tonne) equals exactly 1,000 kilograms and is the international standard for shipping, agriculture, construction, and industrial weight. Adopted as part of the SI system, the metric ton is used worldwide for bulk commodities (grain harvests measured in tons per hectare), vehicle and shipping container masses, freight rates, and CO₂ emissions accounting. A standard 20-foot shipping container has a maximum gross weight of about 24 metric tons. The metric ton is distinct from the US short ton (907.185 kg) and the UK long ton (1,016.047 kg). The unit's spelling differs by country — 'tonne' in British and international usage, 'metric ton' in American — but the abbreviation 't' is universal. It relates to the kilogram (1,000 kg = 1 t) and the megagram (1 Mg = 1 t).

Symbol

Convert Metric Ton to all units

Live result

Kilogram1,000 kg Gram1,000,000 g Milligram1,000,000,000 mg Microgram1,000,000,000,000 µg Pound2,204.6226 lb Ounce35,273.962 oz US Ton1.102311 ton (US)UK Ton0.984207 ton (UK)Stone157.47304 st Carat5,000,000 ct Grain15,432,358 gr

Relationship to Other Weight Units

1 t equals

Visual reference for how the metric ton relates to other weight units. Each row links to the full converter for that pair.

1 t=1,000 kg 1 t=1,000,000 g 1 t=1,000,000,000 mg 1 t=1,000,000,000,000 µg 1 t=2,204.6226 lb 1 t=35,273.962 oz 1 t=1.102311 ton (US)1 t=0.984207 ton (UK)1 t=157.47304 st 1 t=5,000,000 ct 1 t=15,432,358 gr

When Is the Metric Ton Used?

International shipping and freight
Agricultural yield (grain, sugar, coffee)
Steel, cement and industrial production

Real-world examples

A mid-size car weighs about 1.5 t. A 20-ft shipping container holds up to 28 t. Global steel output is about 1,900 million tonnes per year.

Tips for Using the Metric Ton

1 t = 1000 kg exactly. The British "tonne" and the metric "ton" are identical.
In export contracts always specify "metric ton" or "MT" to avoid ambiguity with US or UK tons.
Commodity prices (wheat, sugar, iron ore) are usually quoted per metric ton.

Common Mistakes

Using "ton" without qualifier in US contracts — default is often the short ton (907 kg), a 9% gap.
Confusing metric ton with long ton on UK-origin commodity contracts.
Writing "ton" when accuracy matters in shipping — always write "MT" or "tonne".

Convert Metric Ton to Other Weight Units

Metric Ton to Kilogram

1 t = 1,000 kg

Metric Ton to Gram

1 t = 1,000,000 g

Metric Ton to Milligram

1 t = 1,000,000,000 mg

Metric Ton to Microgram

1 t = 1,000,000,000,000 µg

1 t = 1.102311 ton (US)

Metric Ton to UK Ton

1 t = 0.984207 ton (UK)

Convert Other Units to Metric Ton

Kilogram to Metric Ton

1 kg = 0.001 t

Gram to Metric Ton

1 g = 0.000001 t

Milligram to Metric Ton

1 mg = 1 × 10^-9 t

Microgram to Metric Ton

1 ton (US) = 0.907185 t

UK Ton to Metric Ton

1 ton (UK) = 1.016047 t

1 gr = 6.48 × 10^-8 t

FAQ About the Metric Ton

3 questions

What does the Metric Ton (t) measure?

The metric ton measures weight. The metric ton equals 1,000 kilograms and is the international standard for shipping, agriculture, and industrial weight.

When is the Metric Ton used?

The metric ton is used in: International shipping and freight; Agricultural yield (grain, sugar, coffee); Steel, cement and industrial production. A mid-size car weighs about 1.5 t. A 20-ft shipping container holds up to 28 t. Global steel output is about 1,900 million tonnes per year.

How accurate are conversions involving the Metric Ton?

All conversions on Units Converter use NIST SP 811 and BIPM reference values, accurate to 8 significant figures.