US Short Tons to Kg Converter: Federal Truck Weight Limit Decoder, Pickup Class Reference, and Construction Material Weight Guide
Three modes: convert US short tons to kilograms (1 short ton = 2,000 lbs = 907.18474 kg exactly), use the US Freight Decoder to compare a load against federal axle and gross weight limits in kg per 23 CFR 658.17, or batch-convert up to 20 values. Includes pickup truck class decoder (half-ton, one-ton), concrete and gravel weight reference, and metric ton comparison.
US Tons to Kg
Conversion Result
Formula and Context
Why the US Short Ton to Kg Conversion Matters: Three Industries Where Getting It Wrong Costs Real Money
The United States is the only major economy that routinely uses the short ton (2,000 lbs) as a commercial weight unit. Every other major economy uses the metric ton (1,000 kg = 2,204.623 lbs). This gap creates conversion challenges in three industries where weight accuracy has direct legal and financial consequences: commercial trucking and freight, international commodity trade, and construction materials purchasing.
In commercial trucking, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) enforces weight limits in lbs on interstate highways, but European truck manufacturers and EU importers express vehicle capacities and payloads in kg and metric tons. A truck rated for 24,000 kg gross in EU documentation needs to be checked against the US 40-short-ton (80,000 lb = 36,287 kg) federal limit per 23 CFR 658.17. The conversion: 24,000 kg / 907.18474 = 26.46 short tons = 52,910 lbs — well within the 80,000-lb federal limit. Getting this wrong means overweight fines that start at $65-$150 per pound overweight depending on the state, as documented by the FHWA at highways.dot.gov.
In international commodity trade, contracts for coal, steel, grain, and bulk materials are routinely priced in metric tons (also called “tonnes”) on international markets, but US buyers and sellers may think in short tons. A contract for 5,000 metric tons of coal is 5,000 x 1.10231 = 5,511.55 short tons, or 11,023,100 lbs. At $45 per short ton, the US buyer pays $45 x 5,511.55 = $248,019.75. If the buyer mistakenly calculates at $45 per metric ton, they calculate $45 x 5,000 = $225,000 — a $23,019.75 undercount. The US Energy Information Administration tracks coal prices in both short tons and metric tons at EIA.gov.
How the Three-Mode US Tons to Kg Converter Works
Mode 1: Single Short Ton to Kg
Enter any short ton value or select from 16 presets covering 0.035 short tons (USPS max package = 70 lbs = 31.75 kg) to 100 short tons (200,000 lbs = 90,718 kg). Output: kg, lbs, metric tons, oz, grams, plus automatic freight context (whether the weight is within USPS, UPS/FedEx, or federal truck limits) and construction context for common weights near concrete, gravel, or asphalt densities.
Mode 2: US Freight Decoder
Enter a load weight in short tons. Output shows the kg and lbs equivalent, then a table comparing your load to five key US freight thresholds: USPS max (70 lbs = 31.75 kg), UPS/FedEx max (150 lbs = 68.04 kg), federal single-axle limit (20,000 lbs = 9,071.85 kg), federal tandem-axle limit (34,000 lbs = 15,422 kg), and federal maximum gross vehicle weight (80,000 lbs = 36,287 kg). Each row shows whether your load exceeds the limit and by what percentage. Chart highlights your load vs limits with color-coding.
Mode 3: Batch Conversion
Enter up to 20 short ton values (one per line). Table shows kg, lbs, metric tons, and oz. Useful for converting a manifest of US short ton cargo weights to metric for an international shipment, or checking multiple equipment weight specs against federal limits.
Federal Truck Weight Limits in Short Tons and Kg, Pickup Class Names Decoded, and Construction Materials in Short Tons per Cubic Yard
Federal Interstate Highway Weight Limits per 23 CFR 658.17
| Limit Type | Short Tons | Lbs | Kg | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS package maximum | 0.035 st | 70 lbs | 31.75 kg | 0.0318 t |
| UPS/FedEx ground max | 0.075 st | 150 lbs | 68.04 kg | 0.0680 t |
| Federal single axle | 10 st | 20,000 lbs | 9,071.85 kg | 9.072 t |
| Federal tandem axle | 17 st | 34,000 lbs | 15,422.24 kg | 15.422 t |
| Federal tridem axle | 21 st | 42,000 lbs | 19,051.08 kg | 19.051 t |
| Federal max gross (5-axle semi) | 40 st | 80,000 lbs | 36,287.39 kg | 36.287 t |
Source: 23 CFR 658.17, Federal Bridge Formula. FHWA at highways.dot.gov. State roads may have lower limits. Bridge Formula Weight Limits may further restrict weights based on axle spacing. Overweight vehicles require state DOT permits.
Pickup Truck Class Names (Half-Ton, Three-Quarter-Ton, One-Ton) Decoded in Kg
| Class Name | Historical Payload | Lbs | Kg | Example Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half-ton | 0.5 short tons | ~1,000 lbs | ~453.6 kg | Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado 1500, RAM 1500, Toyota Tundra |
| Three-quarter-ton | 0.75 short tons | ~1,500 lbs | ~680.4 kg | Ford F-250, Chevy Silverado 2500HD, RAM 2500 |
| One-ton | 1.0 short ton | ~2,000 lbs | ~907.2 kg | Ford F-350, Chevy Silverado 3500HD, RAM 3500, Ford F-450 |
Class names are historical and do not reflect actual payload ratings. Modern pickups often exceed their class name significantly. Always check the GVWR sticker on the driver door jamb for actual rated payload in lbs and kg. The DOT truck classification system (Class 1-8) is based on GVWR at FMCSA.dot.gov.
Common US Construction Materials: Weight per Cubic Yard in Short Tons and Kg
| Material | Lbs per yd³ | Short Tons per yd³ | Kg per yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete (normal weight) | 4,050 lbs | 2.025 st | 1,837 kg |
| Asphalt (compacted HMA) | 3,915 lbs | 1.958 st | 1,776 kg |
| Gravel (loose, pea) | 2,800 lbs | 1.400 st | 1,270 kg |
| Fill dirt (loose) | 2,000 lbs | 1.000 st | 907 kg |
| Sand (dry) | 2,700 lbs | 1.350 st | 1,225 kg |
| Crushed stone | 2,700 lbs | 1.350 st | 1,225 kg |
| Topsoil (dry) | 2,000 lbs | 1.000 st | 907 kg |
| Mulch (shredded wood) | 400-800 lbs | 0.2-0.4 st | 181-363 kg |
Material densities are approximate and vary by moisture content, compaction, and source. Concrete density from ACI 318. Asphalt density from AASHTO. Construction material weights used for permit load calculations at state DOTs. US DOT guidance at transportation.gov.
Three Real US Examples: Concrete Delivery Permit, International Steel Contract, and Semi-Truck EU Import Weight Check
Example 1: A Texas General Contractor Calculating Concrete Truck Permit Weight
Single: 8 short tons concrete = 8 x 907.18474 = 7,257.48 kg = 16,000 lbs. Plus truck tare weight ~30,000 lbs = total ~46,000 lbs — under federal single-axle limits.
A Houston general contractor is pouring a commercial foundation slab. Each concrete mixer truck carries approximately 8 cubic yards of concrete (8 yd³ x 2.025 st/yd³ = 16.2 short tons of concrete alone, plus the truck tare weight of ~26,000 lbs = 13 short tons). He needs to verify gross weight for a bridge crossing with a posted 40-ton limit.
Freight Decoder: Concrete payload: 16.2 short tons = 32,400 lbs = 14,696 kg = 14.70 metric tons. Truck tare: ~13 short tons = 26,000 lbs = 11,793 kg. Estimated gross: 16.2 + 13 = 29.2 short tons = 58,400 lbs = 26,490 kg = 26.49 metric tons. This is under the federal maximum gross of 40 short tons (80,000 lbs = 36,287 kg) and under the posted 40-ton limit (whether that limit means short tons or metric tons, 29.2 short tons = 26.49 metric tons is below both). However, axle configurations must also comply with tandem axle limits (34,000 lbs = 17 short tons = 15,422 kg per tandem). State DOT permit requirements at TxDOT.gov. Federal Bridge Formula B at FHWA at highways.dot.gov.
Example 2: A Chicago Steel Trader Reconciling a Contract in Metric Tons Against a US Short Ton Price Sheet
Single: 1.10231 short tons = 1 metric ton = 1,000 kg. 5,000 metric tons = 5,511.55 short tons = 11,023,100 lbs.
A Chicago steel trader receives an international contract for 5,000 metric tons of hot-rolled steel coil from a South Korean supplier at $850 per metric ton. His US buyer quotes $950 per short ton. He needs to compare the two prices and convert the contract quantity to short tons for his US invoice.
Conversion: 5,000 metric tons x 1.10231 short tons/metric ton = 5,511.55 short tons = 11,023,100 lbs = 5,000,000 kg (by definition, since 5,000 metric tons = 5,000 x 1,000 = 5,000,000 kg). Price comparison: Korean supplier: $850/metric ton. US equivalent: $850 / 1.10231 = $771.08/short ton. US buyer rate: $950/short ton. The US buyer’s rate is $950 – $771.08 = $178.92/short ton higher than the Korean equivalent. Profit on 5,511.55 short tons: $178.92 x 5,511.55 = $986,016.06. US steel prices tracked by the USGS Minerals Information at USGS.gov. LME and CME commodity prices use metric tons for international steel.
Example 3: A Maryland Importer Checking If a German Dump Truck Exceeds US Federal Weight Limits
Freight Decoder: German truck spec: 24,000 kg GVW = 24,000 / 907.18474 = 26.46 short tons = 52,911 lbs. Under federal max of 40 st (80,000 lbs = 36,287 kg). Legal without overweight permit.
A Maryland equipment importer is purchasing a used German dump truck specified at 24,000 kg GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) with a 12,000 kg payload. He needs to know if this truck requires a special overweight permit to operate on US interstate highways, and what the payload is in US short tons.
GVW: 24,000 kg = 24,000 / 907.18474 = 26.46 short tons = 52,911 lbs. This is under the federal maximum gross of 80,000 lbs (40 short tons = 36,287 kg). No federal gross weight permit needed. Payload: 12,000 kg = 12,000 / 907.18474 = 13.23 short tons = 26,455 lbs. However, axle-specific limits must also be checked: if a single drive axle carries more than 20,000 lbs (10 short tons = 9,072 kg), a permit is required for that configuration regardless of gross weight. The FMCSA registration requirements for imported commercial vehicles are at FMCSA.dot.gov. CBP import requirements at CBP.gov.
Expert Tips: Reading US Truck Class Names, International Shipping Weight Documents, Bridge Formula Math, and State vs Federal Limits
Tip 1: Why Pickup Truck “Half-Ton” and “One-Ton” Class Names Are Misleading in Kg
The pickup truck class names (“half-ton,” “three-quarter-ton,” “one-ton”) come from the 1950s when these trucks actually had payload ratings near those values. A 2025 Ford F-150 “half-ton” can legally carry 1,985-2,238 lbs (900-1,015 kg) in its payload-rated trim levels — nearly double the 1,000-lb (453.6 kg) “half-ton” name. A 2025 RAM 3500 “one-ton” can carry 7,680 lbs (3,484 kg) in its diesel dually configuration — nearly four times the 2,000-lb (907 kg) “one-ton” name. When comparing a US pickup to a European or Japanese commercial vehicle spec expressed in kg, always use the actual GVWR and payload sticker on the driver door jamb, not the class name. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) vehicle weight classification details are at NHTSA.gov. The FMCSA defines Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) thresholds at 10,001 lbs (4,536 kg = 5.0 short tons) GVWR at FMCSA.dot.gov.
Tip 2: Reading International Bill of Lading Weight in Metric Tons vs Short Tons
International shipping documents (Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, customs entry) use metric tons (MT or MT/T) as the standard weight unit per Incoterms and UNCTAD conventions. The abbreviation “T” or “MT” in a shipping document almost always means metric ton = 1,000 kg, not a US short ton. The abbreviation “ST” is sometimes used for short ton. If a US importer sees “500 MT steel” on a Bill of Lading, that is 500 x 1.10231 = 551.16 short tons = 1,102,311 lbs = 500,000 kg. A common error is treating MT and ST as equivalent, which understates weight by 10.231% (the difference between 1 metric ton and 0.90718 metric tons per US short ton). CBP entry documentation guidance at CBP.gov. US Census Bureau foreign trade statistics at Census.gov/foreign-trade.
Tip 3: The Federal Bridge Formula B and Why It Matters More Than Gross Weight in Kg
The 80,000-lb (40-short-ton = 36,287-kg) federal gross vehicle weight limit is the ceiling, but the Bridge Formula B (23 CFR 658.17) often restricts trucks to lower weights based on axle spacing. The formula: W = 500 [(LN/(N-1)) + 12N + 36], where W = maximum load in lbs, L = distance in feet between outer axles of the axle group, N = number of axles. For a 5-axle semi with 51 feet between outer axles: W = 500 [(51×5/4) + 60 + 36] = 500 [63.75 + 96] = 500 x 159.75 = 79,875 lbs = 39.94 short tons = 36,230 kg. In practice, the gross limit and Bridge Formula both apply, and the lower limit governs. A truck that meets the 80,000-lb gross limit but has axles too close together can still be overweight under Bridge Formula. FHWA Bridge Formula guidance at highways.dot.gov/freight/infrastructure/bridge-formula-weights.
Tip 4: State Limits vs Federal Limits and the Permit System
The federal limits (single axle 10 st/20,000 lbs/9,072 kg; tandem 17 st/34,000 lbs/15,422 kg; gross 40 st/80,000 lbs/36,287 kg) apply to the Interstate Highway System. States may set lower limits on state and local roads, and many do. Texas allows 58,420 lbs (29.21 short tons = 26,500 kg) on some state farm-to-market roads. Florida has stricter bridge posting. For overweight loads, states issue oversize/overweight (OS/OW) permits. Many states set permit fees based on weight in excess of the legal limit per mile, calculated in short tons or lbs (not kg). For a US carrier, the practical implication is: always verify state-specific limits for each route, not just federal limits. State DOT permit offices are listed at FHWA.dot.gov.
Beyond the three primary commercial contexts, the short ton appears in several other US industries where international partners use metric tons and the conversion is a routine operational necessity. In the coal and energy sector, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes US coal production statistics in short tons: in 2023, the US produced approximately 578 million short tons of coal (EIA.gov). International markets — particularly power generation buyers in Europe and Asia — purchase coal in metric tons. 578 million short tons = 578 x 0.90718474 = 524.4 million metric tons. The two numbers look similar but the 10.23% gap matters significantly at commodity-scale purchases. The EIA provides coal price comparisons in both units at EIA.gov/coal.
In US scrap metal recycling, prices are routinely quoted in dollars per short ton at US salvage yards, while London Metal Exchange (LME) prices for ferrous scrap are in dollars per metric ton. If a US steel mill buys domestic scrap at $350 per short ton and can sell to a Korean buyer at $390 per metric ton, the comparison requires conversion: $390/metric ton / 1.10231 short tons/metric ton = $353.80/short ton equivalent. The Korean price ($353.80/st equivalent) is only $3.80/short ton above the domestic price, making the export option only marginally better — a comparison that is invisible without the conversion. The US Geological Survey (USGS) tracks scrap metal prices and volumes in short tons at USGS.gov. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) publishes domestic pricing at ISRI.org.
In US agriculture, grain is historically traded in bushels at domestic elevators, but in metric tons on international futures markets (CME Group’s wheat, corn, and soybean futures offer contracts in both units). A US corn grower receiving a foreign buyer inquiry for “500 metric tons of corn” needs to know that 500 metric tons = 500 x 1.10231 = 551.16 short tons = 1,102,311 lbs. At roughly 56 lbs per bushel for corn, that is 1,102,311 / 56 = 19,684 bushels — a quantity that fits in about 5-6 standard grain hopper trucks. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service tracks international grain trade in metric tons at FAS.USDA.gov. The CME Group provides futures contract specifications at CMEGroup.com.
Quick Reference: Common US Short Ton Values Converted to Kg, Lbs, and Metric Tons
| Short Tons | Kg | Lbs | Metric Tons | US Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.035 st | 31.75 kg | 70 lbs | 0.0318 t | USPS absolute max package weight |
| 0.5 st | 453.59 kg | 1,000 lbs | 0.4536 t | Half-ton pickup class payload (historical) |
| 1.0 st | 907.18 kg | 2,000 lbs | 0.9072 t | One-ton pickup class (historical). 1 cubic yard loose fill dirt. |
| 2.0 st | 1,814.37 kg | 4,000 lbs | 1.8144 t | ~1 cubic yard of concrete (2.025 st/yd3) |
| 10.0 st | 9,071.85 kg | 20,000 lbs | 9.0718 t | Federal single-axle limit (23 CFR 658.17) |
| 17.0 st | 15,422.24 kg | 34,000 lbs | 15.422 t | Federal tandem-axle limit (23 CFR 658.17) |
| 20.0 st | 18,143.69 kg | 40,000 lbs | 18.144 t | Typical semi-trailer max payload |
| 40.0 st | 36,287.39 kg | 80,000 lbs | 36.287 t | Federal maximum gross vehicle weight (23 CFR 658.17) |
| 1.10231 st | 1,000.00 kg | 2,204.62 lbs | 1.000 t | Exactly 1 metric ton (tonne) — international shipping unit |
Formula: kg = short tons x 907.18474 (exact). Reverse: short tons = kg / 907.18474. 1 US short ton = 2,000 lbs (exact) = 907.18474 kg (exact) = 0.90718474 metric tons. Source: NIST.gov (1959 International Pound). 23 CFR 658.17 (Federal weight limits). FHWA at highways.dot.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions: US Short Tons to Kg
Related Weight Converters
Legal Disclaimer and Editorial Transparency
The US Short Tons to Kg Converter on USCalculators.com is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The definition 1 US short ton = 2,000 lbs is exact under US customary units. The pound is defined as 0.45359237 kg exactly (1959 International Pound Agreement, NIST.gov), making 1 US short ton = 907.18474 kg, exactly. Federal truck weight limits cited (single axle 20,000 lbs = 9,071.847 kg; tandem axle 34,000 lbs = 15,422.241 kg; maximum gross 80,000 lbs = 36,287.390 kg) are from 23 CFR Part 658.17 as published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) at highways.dot.gov. These limits apply to the Interstate Highway System; state roads and bridges may have lower posted limits. The Federal Bridge Formula B methodology from FHWA is educational; actual permit requirements must be verified with state DOTs and FMCSA. Oversize/overweight permit requirements vary by state. Construction material densities (concrete, gravel, asphalt, fill dirt) are approximate averages from ACI, AASHTO, and engineering references; actual densities vary by mix design, moisture content, and compaction. International commodity pricing examples are illustrative and do not constitute financial or trading advice. This calculator does not provide legal, transportation, or commercial advice. For truck weight compliance, consult a licensed commercial transportation attorney or your state DOT. Outbound links to highways.dot.gov, fmcsa.dot.gov, fhwa.dot.gov, nhtsa.gov, cbp.gov, transportation.gov, usgs.gov, eia.gov, txdot.gov, census.gov, nist.gov, and usps.com are provided for informational authority only.