What Is quintal (metric)?
A metric quintal is a unit used to measure mass or weight. One metric quintal is exactly 100 kilograms. People often use it to weigh large amounts of goods, such as grain, rice, sugar or other farm products, because 100 kilograms is a simple round number that is easy to count.
Definition
A metric quintal is defined in the metric system as:
- 1 metric quintal = 100 kilograms
- Since 1 kilogram = 1,000 grams, this also means:
- 1 metric quintal = 100,000 grams
In words, a metric quintal is one hundred kilograms. It belongs to the metric system, so it fits neatly with other metric units like grams, kilograms and tonnes.
History / Origin
The word quintal comes from old languages used around the Mediterranean Sea. It is linked to the Latin word centenarium, which means “a group of one hundred”. Traders and merchants used the idea of “one hundred” units of weight when buying and selling goods in bulk.
Over time, many countries used their own kind of quintal with different sizes. When the metric system was created in France in the late 1700s, people wanted a clear and simple standard. So they set the metric quintal to be exactly 100 kilograms. This made calculations easier because everything works in tens and hundreds.
Today, the metric quintal is not an official SI base unit, but it is still used in trade and farming in several regions, especially where people like to work with round numbers like 100 kg.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The metric quintal does not have a single worldwide official symbol, but some common short forms are used in practice:
- q is often used in many countries.
- ql is also seen, especially in older books or trade documents.
- Sometimes people simply write the word quintal or quintals in full to avoid confusion.
To be clear in science and engineering, most people prefer to write mass in kilograms or tonnes. But in everyday trade, you may still see q or quintal on bills or price lists.
Current Use Around the World
The metric quintal is not as common as kilograms, but it is still used in several parts of the world, mainly in trade and agriculture.
- Europe: In some European countries, such as Germany, Poland and others, farmers and traders sometimes talk about harvests of grain or potatoes in quintals. However, official documents often use kilograms or tonnes.
- India and South Asia: The word quintal is well known. It is often used by farmers and in markets to state the weight of crops like wheat, rice or sugarcane. Prices for bulk goods are sometimes given “per quintal”.
- Latin America: In several countries, similar units derived from the word quintal are used in farming and trade, though exact values can differ if they are not metric.
- Africa and the Middle East: In some regions, especially where agriculture is important, the term is known and sometimes used in trade for large loads.
In science, engineering and most official standards, the kilogram and the tonne are preferred. The metric quintal survives mainly because it is handy for talking about groups of 100 kilograms.
Example Conversions
Here are some simple conversions to help you understand the size of a metric quintal.
Between quintals and kilograms
- 1 quintal = 100 kilograms
- 2 quintals = 200 kilograms
- 5 quintals = 500 kilograms
- 10 quintals = 1,000 kilograms
Between quintals and tonnes
Remember that 1 tonne = 1,000 kilograms.
- 1 quintal = 100 kg = 0.1 tonne
- 5 quintals = 500 kg = 0.5 tonne
- 10 quintals = 1,000 kg = 1 tonne
Between quintals and grams
Remember that 1 kilogram = 1,000 grams.
- 1 quintal = 100 kg = 100,000 grams
- 0.5 quintal = 50 kg = 50,000 grams
Between quintals and pounds (approximate)
In countries like the United States, people often use pounds. The link is:
- 1 kilogram is about 2.20462 pounds
So:
- 1 quintal = 100 kg ≈ 220.46 pounds
- 2 quintals = 200 kg ≈ 440.92 pounds
- 5 quintals = 500 kg ≈ 1,102.31 pounds
Related Units
These units are closely related to the metric quintal or are often used instead of it.
- Gram (g): The basic small unit of mass in the metric system. 1 quintal = 100,000 g.
- Kilogram (kg): The main metric unit for everyday mass. 1 quintal = 100 kg.
- Tonne (t): A large metric unit used for very heavy loads. 1 tonne = 1,000 kg, so 1 tonne = 10 quintals.
- Pound (lb): A common unit in the United States and some other countries. 1 quintal ≈ 220.46 lb.
- Hundredweight: An old unit related to “one hundred” of something. There are different kinds, such as the British hundredweight (112 lb) and the US hundredweight (100 lb). These are not the same as the metric quintal but are historically linked to it by the idea of “hundreds”.
FAQs
Is a metric quintal the same as a hundredweight?
No. A metric quintal is 100 kilograms. A hundredweight in old British and US systems is based on pounds, not kilograms. For example, in the US, 1 hundredweight is 100 pounds, which is much less than 100 kilograms.
Why do some people still use the quintal?
People like the quintal because it is a simple group of 100 kilograms. This makes it easy to count large amounts of grain, seeds or other farm goods. Saying “5 quintals” is shorter than saying “500 kilograms” every time.
Is the metric quintal an official SI unit?
No. The official SI unit for mass is the kilogram. The quintal is a decimal multiple of the kilogram, so it fits with the metric system, but it is not an official SI unit on its own.
How do I quickly convert quintals to tonnes?
Since 1 quintal is 0.1 tonne, just move the decimal point one place to the left. For example, 7 quintals = 0.7 tonne, and 25 quintals = 2.5 tonnes.
Where might I see prices given per quintal?
You may see prices per quintal in farm markets, grain markets and trading reports in countries like India and some parts of Europe, where crops and bulk goods are often measured in quintals.
Can I use the quintal in school science work?
In school science and in exams, it is safer to use kilograms and grams, because they are standard SI units. You can convert any quintal value into kilograms before doing calculations.