Unit & Measurement Converter

Instant, linked conversions for weight, length, volume, area, temperature and speed — type into any field and every other unit updates at once. Built for quotes, packing lists and shipping documents. Nothing leaves your browser.

Kilogramskg

Gramsg

Metric Tonst

Poundslb

Ouncesoz

US Short Tonssh tn

UK Long Tonslg tn

Freight Weight & Volume Quick Reference

Air Freight Volumetric (Chargeable) Weight

Volumetric weight (kg) = L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6,000 — the standard IATA divisor. Carriers bill on whichever is greater: actual gross weight or volumetric weight.

Sea Freight LCL — “W/M” (Weight or Measure)

Most ocean LCL tariffs charge on 1 CBM (m³) ≈ 1,000 kg, whichever is greater between actual weight and volume — confirm the exact ratio with your forwarder.

Courier / Express Volumetric

Many express couriers use a lighter divisor of 5,000 instead of 6,000, which makes bulky-but-light parcels relatively more expensive to ship by courier than by sea or air cargo.

Need exact container capacities?

Use the 3D Container Stuffing Calculator or the Container Standards Library for verified dimensions and payload limits by container type.

These are widely-used industry rules of thumb for estimating shipments, not a specific carrier's tariff — always confirm exact chargeable-weight rules with your freight forwarder or carrier before quoting a customer.

Tons are not all the same

Unit	Also called	Kilograms	Pounds	Used in
Metric ton	tonne, MT, t	1,000	2,204.62	Almost all international trade
Long ton	UK / imperial ton	1,016.05	2,240	Some UK and shipping contexts
Short ton	US ton	907.18	2,000	United States

Contracts, bills of lading and letters of credit should always state which ton is meant. A 10% difference between short and metric tons can cause real disputes on bulk cargo.

Common trade and shipping conversions

From	To	Multiply by
Cubic metres (m³)	Cubic feet (ft³)	35.3147
Cubic feet (ft³)	Cubic metres (m³)	0.0283168
Kilograms	Pounds	2.20462
US gallons	Litres	3.78541
UK gallons	Litres	4.54609
Oil barrels (42 US gal)	Litres	158.987
Nautical miles	Kilometres	1.852
Knots	km/h	1.852
Troy ounces (precious metals)	Grams	31.1035

Grain is often quoted in bushels, which are measures of volume converted to weight by commodity: a bushel of wheat or soybeans is 60 lb (27.22 kg) and a bushel of maize (corn) is 56 lb (25.40 kg).

Units on shipping documents

Gross weight includes packaging; net weight is the goods alone. Both appear on the packing list and must match the commercial invoice.
Volume is normally stated in cubic metres for sea freight and used to price LCL; see the CBM calculator.
Temperature for reefer cargo is set in °C or °F; mixing them up is a costly mistake. See the reefer temperature guide.
Abbreviations such as MT, CBM, TEU and W/M are explained in the shipping terms glossary.

Frequently asked questions

How many kilograms are in a metric ton?

A metric ton (tonne) is exactly 1,000 kg, or about 2,204.6 lb.

What is the difference between a long ton and a short ton?

A long ton is 2,240 lb (1,016 kg) and is used in the UK; a short ton is 2,000 lb (907 kg) and is used in the United States. International trade usually uses the metric ton.

How many cubic feet are in a cubic metre?

One cubic metre is about 35.31 cubic feet.

How many litres are in an oil barrel?

A standard oil barrel is 42 US gallons, or about 158.99 litres.

How fast is a knot?

One knot is one nautical mile per hour, which is 1.852 km/h or about 1.15 mph.