What Is ton (short)?
A ton (short) is a unit used to measure heavy weight. It is mainly used in the United States. One short ton equals 2,000 pounds, which is about 907 kilograms.
Definition
A short ton is a unit of mass in the US customary system. It is exactly equal to 2,000 pounds. In metric units this is about 907.18474 kilograms. When people in the United States say ton in everyday talk they usually mean the short ton unless they say otherwise.
History / Origin
The idea of a ton comes from old European trade. Long ago traders used a large barrel called a tun to carry wine and other goods. The weight of what that barrel could hold slowly became a standard measure of heavy loads. In Britain this grew into the long ton of 2,240 pounds. Later, when the United States developed its own system, the country chose a slightly smaller version at 2,000 pounds. This became known as the short ton to tell it apart from the British long ton and from the metric ton used in many other countries.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The short ton is often written in a few ways. Common forms are:
- ton used in the United States where ton usually means 2,000 pounds
- short ton written in full to avoid confusion
- sh tn sometimes used in technical books or tables
- US ton used when writers want to show clearly that they mean the American 2,000 pound ton
Because the word ton can mean different things in different countries, it is important to add short or US when there could be confusion.
Current Use Around the World
The short ton is mainly used in:
- United States for heavy goods like coal, salt, grain, steel and paper
- Some industries in Canada close to the US border, especially in older contracts and trade
Most other countries now use the metric ton, also called the tonne, which equals 1,000 kilograms. In science and most world trade the metric ton is preferred. The short ton is still common in US business, mining, shipping within the country and some government statistics.
Example Conversions
These examples show how the short ton compares with other units.
- 1 short ton = 2,000 pounds (exact)
- 1 short ton ≈ 907.1847 kilograms
- 1 short ton ≈ 0.9072 metric tons (tonnes)
- 1 short ton ≈ 0.8929 long tons
From smaller units to short tons:
- 1 pound = 0.0005 short tons
- 500 pounds = 0.25 short tons
- 1,000 pounds = 0.5 short tons
- 4,000 pounds = 2 short tons
Rough mental help:
- To change short tons to kilograms, multiply by about 907
- To change kilograms to short tons, divide by about 907
Related Units
Units that are closely related to the short ton include:
- Pound (lb) the basic US unit of weight. 1 short ton = 2,000 pounds
- Long ton used in the United Kingdom for some ship and cargo measures. 1 long ton = 2,240 pounds
- Metric ton or tonne (t) used in the metric system. 1 metric ton = 1,000 kilograms ≈ 2,204.62 pounds
- Kilogram (kg) main metric unit of mass. About 907 kilograms in a short ton
- Stone (st) used in the UK for body weight. 1 stone = 14 pounds. 1 short ton = about 142.86 stone
FAQs
Is a short ton the same as a regular ton?
In the United States, when people say ton they almost always mean the short ton of 2,000 pounds. In other countries, ton may mean the metric ton of 1,000 kilograms, so it is not always the same.
What is the difference between a short ton and a metric ton?
A short ton equals 2,000 pounds or about 907 kilograms. A metric ton equals 1,000 kilograms or about 2,204.62 pounds. So a metric ton is a bit heavier than a short ton.
How many pounds are in a short ton?
There are exactly 2,000 pounds in one short ton. This is a fixed and exact number.
Where is the short ton mostly used?
The short ton is mostly used in the United States and in some older or special uses in Canada. Most other countries and many global companies use the metric ton instead.
Why is it called a short ton?
It is called short to tell it apart from the longer and heavier long ton of 2,240 pounds and from the metric ton. Short here means the value is smaller than those other tons.
How can I quickly change short tons to metric tons?
To change short tons to metric tons, multiply by about 0.907. For example, 5 short tons × 0.907 ≈ 4.54 metric tons.
Which ton should I use for homework or science?
For school science and math, teachers usually prefer metric units. Use kilograms or metric tons unless your teacher or book clearly says to use the short ton.