What is a UK Ton?

The UK long ton equals exactly 2,240 pounds or 1,016.0469088 kilograms, and was historically the standard weight unit in the British Empire and remains in use in shipping, mining, and engineering throughout the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. The long ton is closer in size to the metric ton (only 1.6% lighter), which is why it has resisted complete replacement. Shipping displacement, especially of older and military vessels, is often quoted in long tons (the British Royal Navy historically used long tons for ship tonnage). It relates to the hundredweight (20 cwt = 1 long ton), the pound (2,240 lb = 1 long ton), and the metric ton (1 long ton ≈ 1.016 t). The long ton's name reflects its larger size compared to the US short ton (2,000 lb).

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

• Older UK shipping and commodity contracts
• British naval displacement tonnage (ships)
• Historical coal and steel production data

• ✓1 UK long ton = 2240 lb = 1016 kg.
• ✓Modern British commerce uses the metric ton (tonne); long tons are mostly historical.
• ✓Always check the era of a document before assuming "ton" means short, long or metric.

• ✗Assuming a pre-1980 UK contract uses metric tons — it probably uses long tons.
• ✗Mixing long tons and short tons across the Atlantic — the 12% gap matters.
• ✗Using 1000 kg as a shortcut for a British historical "ton".