metric ton

unit of weight

Also known as: t

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

A metric ton is a unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms. It is also known as a tonne. This is distinct from the U.S. short ton (2,000 pounds) and the British long ton (2,240 pounds). The metric ton is used in most countries worldwide. The term "ton" originally referred to a large barrel, and its weight has been standardized differently across various systems. A related unit, the ton-kilometer, measures freight carriage by transporting one metric ton of freight over one kilometer.123

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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 hundredweight although the…
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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 hundredweight although the…
Read More