What Is hundredweight (UK)?
The UK hundredweight is an old unit of weight that is used in Britain and some other countries. It is equal to 112 pounds, which is about 50.8 kilograms.
Definition
The hundredweight in the UK, also called the imperial hundredweight, is a unit used to measure heavy loads, such as farm goods or coal. By definition:
- 1 UK hundredweight = 112 pounds
- 1 UK hundredweight = 8 stone
- 1 UK hundredweight ≈ 50.8 kilograms
There are 20 UK hundredweights in one UK long ton. That means:
- 20 hundredweight × 112 pounds = 2240 pounds in a long ton
History / Origin
The word hundredweight comes from old European trading times. Merchants often sold goods, like grain or wool, in large bundles. They needed a big and easy unit to count heavy loads.
In many places, a hundred used in trade did not always mean 100. For some goods, a bigger hundred made counting and dividing easier. In England, this special hundred became 112 pounds instead of 100 pounds. This is why the UK hundredweight is 112 pounds.
Later, when the British Empire set the imperial system, they kept this value. It linked nicely with other units, such as stone and the long ton. That is how the imperial hundredweight became fixed at 112 pounds.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The most common short form for the UK hundredweight is:
- cwt for hundredweight
- Sometimes written as long cwt to show it is the UK version
The letters cwt come from the Latin word centum for hundred and the old word weight. In writing, you might see examples like:
- 3 cwt of coal
- 5 long cwt of grain
Current Use Around the World
Today, the metric system is used in most countries, so the hundredweight is less common. However, the UK hundredweight still appears in some areas.
- United Kingdom It can still be seen in older trade records, farming markets, and for some traditional goods.
- Some Commonwealth countries Older contracts or shipping documents may still use cwt, often meaning the UK hundredweight.
- United States The word hundredweight is used, but there it usually means 100 pounds, not 112 pounds. This is called the short hundredweight or US hundredweight.
In science, health, and most modern trade, kilograms and metric tons are preferred. The hundredweight mostly remains in history, special markets, or older style accounts.
Example Conversions
Here are some simple conversion examples using the UK hundredweight.
Hundredweight to pounds and stones
- 1 cwt = 112 pounds = 8 stone
- 2 cwt = 224 pounds = 16 stone
- 5 cwt = 560 pounds = 40 stone
Hundredweight to kilograms
Use 1 cwt ≈ 50.802 kilograms. For easy math, you can round to 50.8 kilograms.
- 1 cwt ≈ 50.8 kg
- 2 cwt ≈ 101.6 kg
- 5 cwt ≈ 254.0 kg
Hundredweight to long tons
There are 20 UK hundredweights in 1 UK long ton.
- 1 cwt = 1 ÷ 20 long ton = 0.05 long ton
- 10 cwt = 10 ÷ 20 = 0.5 long ton
- 20 cwt = 1 long ton
UK hundredweight vs US hundredweight
- 1 UK cwt = 112 lb
- 1 US cwt = 100 lb
- So, 1 UK cwt = 1.12 US cwt
- And 1 US cwt ≈ 0.893 UK cwt
Related Units
The UK hundredweight fits into a group of weight units from the imperial system.
- Pound lb The basic unit of weight in the imperial system. 1 cwt = 112 lb.
- Stone A unit often used for body weight in the UK. 1 stone = 14 lb, and 1 cwt = 8 stone.
- Long ton imperial ton A heavy weight unit used for ships and bulk goods. 1 long ton = 20 cwt = 2240 lb.
- US hundredweight Used in the United States. 1 US cwt = 100 lb, which is less than the UK hundredweight.
- Kilogram kg The main metric unit for mass. 1 cwt ≈ 50.8 kg.
- Metric ton tonne A metric unit equal to 1000 kg. 1 tonne ≈ 19.68 UK cwt.
FAQs
Q1. How much is 1 UK hundredweight in kilograms
1 UK hundredweight is exactly 112 pounds. In metric units, this is about 50.802 kilograms. For simple use, most people round it to 50.8 kilograms.
Q2. Why is the UK hundredweight 112 pounds and not 100
The value 112 pounds comes from old trade customs. In England, a bigger hundred was chosen for some goods, and it matched nicely with other units like stone and the long ton. This old choice stayed and became the standard imperial hundredweight.
Q3. What is the difference between UK and US hundredweight
The UK hundredweight is 112 pounds. The US hundredweight is 100 pounds. So the UK version is heavier. When you see cwt, you must check if the text means the UK long hundredweight or the US short hundredweight.
Q4. Is the hundredweight still used today
It is not common in everyday life. Most people and businesses now use kilograms and metric tons. However, hundredweight may still appear in some farm markets, old contracts, and shipping papers, especially in the UK and older Commonwealth records.
Q5. How many UK hundredweights are in a long ton
There are exactly 20 UK hundredweights in one long ton. This means 20 × 112 pounds = 2240 pounds in a long ton.
Q6. How can I quickly change hundredweight to kilograms in my head
You can use a simple rule. Multiply the number of UK hundredweights by 50 to get a quick estimate in kilograms, then add a little extra. For example, 3 cwt is about 3 × 50 = 150 kg, plus a bit more, so around 152 kg.
