A kilograms to pounds calculator converts a metric weight to the US/UK customary pound. Enter a value in kg and the calculator returns the lb equivalent using 1 kg = 2.20462262 lb (the exact inverse of the NIST avoirdupois pound definition).
Useful when shopping in the US with metric prices on the label, reading international body-weight figures, converting metric athletic data to US units, and any setting where the same number needs both systems. The inverse (lb to kg) is in our companion calculator linked below.
Key takeaway
The kg-to-lb factor is just over 2.2. For everyday weights, doubling and adding 10% lands within a fraction of a pound of the exact answer. Precision matters mostly for scientific work, freight calculations, and competitive athletics where small differences accumulate; for ordinary use, the rough multiplier is enough.
How it's calculated
The conversion:
pounds = kilograms × 2.20462262
The 2.20462262 figure comes from inverting the international avoirdupois pound (1 lb = 0.45359237 kg, so 1 kg = 1 ÷ 0.45359237 ≈ 2.20462262 lb). The pound is smaller than the kilogram, so the pound number is always larger than the kilogram number for any positive weight, a useful sanity check.
Worth knowing: in the US, the stone (= 14 lb) shows up in fitness and weight-loss contexts. In the UK and Ireland, body weight is often quoted in stones-and-pounds (e.g. "11 stone 4"). 1 kg ≈ 0.157 stone. The metric world has effectively no equivalent "intermediate" unit between kg and tonnes.
Source: Inverse of NIST avoirdupois pound, 1 kg = 2.20462262 lb
Examples
70 kg, typical adult weight
- Weight 70 kg
70 kg converts to 154.32 lb, near the global average adult weight (the US average is closer to 81 kg / 178 lb for men, 76 kg / 168 lb for women, Americans are noticeably heavier than the global mean). Mental check: 70 × 2 = 140, +10% = 154, within a fraction of a pound.
5 kg, checked-bag weight test
- Weight 5 kg
5 kg is 11.02 lb. Useful for international travelers, many airlines specify carry-on limits in kg (typically 7-10 kg) and you need to translate to the lb-marked scale at home. 7 kg ≈ 15.4 lb, 10 kg ≈ 22 lb.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert kg to pounds?
Multiply by 2.20462 for the precise answer, or use the double-and-add-10% mental shortcut for everyday estimates. So 50 kg × 2.20462 = 110.23 lb (or 50 × 2 = 100, + 10% = 110, within 0.2 lb). Both methods are accurate enough for almost any non-scientific use.
Why isn't the conversion exactly 2.2?
Because the international pound is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kg, not exactly 0.4545... kg (which would give a clean 2.2). The "2.2" approximation drops the trailing digits and is off by about 0.2%, fine for everyday weights but wrong by 2 lb on a 1,000 lb shipping pallet, which is enough to matter in commerce.
What is a stone in pounds and kilograms?
1 stone = 14 lb = 6.35 kg. The stone is a UK/Irish unit, still widely used for body weight in those countries. So someone weighing "12 stone 6" weighs 12 × 14 + 6 = 174 lb, or about 78.9 kg. Stones appear in boxing weight classes ("super heavyweight"), horse weight, and casual British conversation about diets.
Why do shipping labels include both kg and lb?
Because most international carriers operate across both metric and US-customary jurisdictions, and labels need to be readable everywhere. Many countries' customs forms also require metric-only declarations, while the US continues to use lb on domestic freight. Bilingual labels avoid double-handling and minimize errors at hand-off points between carriers using different unit systems.