Stone to Pound
st
lb
Conversion History
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Quick Reference Table (Stone to Pound)
| Stone (st) | Pound (lb) |
|---|---|
| 6 | 84 |
| 7 | 98 |
| 8 | 112 |
| 9 | 126 |
| 10 | 140 |
| 11 | 154 |
| 12 | 168 |
| 13 | 182 |
| 14 | 196 |
About Stone (st)
The stone (st) is a unit of weight equal to 14 pounds (approximately 6.35 kg), used almost exclusively in the United Kingdom and Ireland for expressing human body weight. A person weighing 70 kg is approximately 11 stone. The stone is rarely used outside body weight — commercial goods, food, and science all use kilograms in the UK. The stone is not part of the metric system and has no formal SI equivalent; its continued use is a cultural habit, particularly in older generations and media coverage of boxing and fitness.
Average UK adult body weight is often quoted as 11–13 stone. A jockey must typically weigh under 8.5 stone to compete.
Etymology: From the practice of using actual stones as counterweights on balance scales. Standardised in England at 14 pounds by the Weights and Measures Act 1835.
About Pound (lb)
The avoirdupois pound (lb) is the primary unit of weight in the United States and a familiar unit in the United Kingdom. One pound equals 16 ounces or approximately 453.6 grams. The pound is used for body weight in the US (a 70 kg person weighs about 154 lbs), for food packaging, luggage, and freight. The pound is also the basis of the imperial force unit pound-force (lbf). The abbreviation "lb" derives from the Latin "libra" (scales, balance) — the same root as the zodiac sign Libra and the British currency symbol £.
A standard loaf of bread weighs about 1 lb. A typical newborn baby is 6–9 lbs. A gallon of water weighs about 8.34 lbs.
Etymology: From Latin "libra pondo" (a pound by weight). "Pound" comes from "pondo" (weight); "lb" abbreviation from "libra" (scales). Used in England since at least the 8th century.
Stone – Frequently Asked Questions
How many pounds are in a stone?
One stone equals exactly 14 pounds. A person who weighs 10 stone weighs 140 pounds (63.5 kg). To convert stone to kilograms, multiply by 6.35; to convert to pounds, multiply by 14.
Do people outside the UK use stone for weight?
Stone is used in the UK and Ireland for body weight but is virtually unknown elsewhere. Australians, Canadians, and New Zealanders — who all once used it — have largely switched to kilograms. Americans use only pounds. If you quote your weight in stone outside the British Isles, expect blank looks.
Why is a stone 14 pounds?
The stone historically varied between 8 and 26 pounds depending on the commodity (wool, meat, cheese). The 14-pound standard was established by the English Weights and Measures Act of 1835, partly because 14 divides evenly into the 28-pound quarter and the 56-pound half-hundredweight.
Is stone used in medical settings in the UK?
The NHS officially uses kilograms in clinical contexts, and most medical equipment is calibrated in kg. However, many patients still report their weight in stone, so UK healthcare professionals routinely work in both systems. Obesity classifications (BMI categories) are always calculated in kilograms.
How do I convert my weight from kilograms to stone and pounds?
Divide your weight in kg by 6.35 to get stone. The whole number is your stone value; multiply the decimal remainder by 14 to get the remaining pounds. Example: 75 kg ÷ 6.35 = 11.81 stone → 11 stone and (0.81 × 14) ≈ 11 lbs, so 75 kg ≈ 11 stone 11 lbs.
Pound – Frequently Asked Questions
Why does losing "the last 10 pounds" feel harder than the first 10?
It is genuinely harder, not just psychologically. As you lose weight, your basal metabolic rate drops — a lighter body burns fewer calories at rest. A person who lost 20 lbs now burns roughly 100–200 fewer calories per day than they did at their starting weight. Simultaneously, hormones like leptin decrease and ghrelin increases, amplifying hunger signals. The body defends its fat stores more aggressively as they shrink. This is why the same caloric deficit that produced 2 lbs/week of loss early on may yield only 0.5 lbs/week later — the math changes as you get lighter.
Why is pound abbreviated as lb?
The abbreviation lb comes from "libra", the Latin word for scales or balance, as in the Roman unit "libra pondo" (a pound weight). "Pound" itself derives from "pondo" (weight). The British pound sterling symbol £ shares this same Latin root.
Which countries use pounds for body weight?
The United States primarily uses pounds for body weight; most Americans are unfamiliar with their weight in kilograms. The UK uses both: official medical contexts use kilograms, but many people still think of weight in stones and pounds. Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have largely switched to kilograms.
How much does a pound of muscle weigh compared to a pound of fat?
A pound of muscle and a pound of fat weigh exactly the same — one pound (453.6 g). The difference is density and volume: muscle tissue is denser than fat, so a pound of muscle takes up less space. A pound of fat occupies roughly 20% more volume than the same weight of muscle.
What is the difference between a pound (lb) and a pound-force (lbf)?
A pound (lb) is a unit of mass; a pound-force (lbf) is the force exerted by one pound of mass under standard gravity (9.80665 m/s²). In everyday US usage the distinction is usually ignored, but in engineering — particularly aerospace and structural analysis — confusing lbm and lbf leads to serious errors. The SI system avoids this ambiguity by using kilograms for mass and newtons for force.