long ton

unit of weight

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The long ton is a unit of weight, primarily used in Britain, that is equal to 2,240 pounds. This is equivalent to 1,016.05 kilograms. It is also known as the imperial ton. This differs from the U.S. short ton, which is 2,000 pounds. The term "ton" itself originates from a large barrel called a tun and historically represented various weights until standardization.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

ton
05 kg) in Britain (the long ton). The metric ton used in most other countries is 1,000 kg, equivalent to 2,204.6 pounds avoirdupois. The term derives from tun, denoting a large barrel used in the wine trade. Ton came to mean any large weight, until it was standardized at 20…
Read More
05 kg) in Britain (the long ton). The metric ton used in most other countries is 1,000 kg, equivalent to 2,204.6 pounds avoirdupois. The term derives from tun, denoting a large barrel used in the wine trade. Ton came to mean any large weight, until it was standardized at 20…
Read More