Ton
Abbreviation/Symbol:
ton
Worldwide use:
'Ton' means three different weights – 2,240 pounds in the old British system, 2,000 pounds in the United States and 1,000 kilograms in the metric system – which differ by up to 12%.
The short ton, also called the net ton or US ton, is 2,000 pounds, or 907.185 kilograms. A net ton is the short ton as opposed to the gross ton, which is the long ton.
Definition:
Three different tons are in use: the metric ton, or tonne, of 1,000 kilograms; the US short ton of 2,000 pounds; and the imperial (long) ton of 2,240 pounds. They differ by up to about 12%, which matters when you are buying grain by the shipload.
Usage context:
More information on the metric ton (or tonne).
More information on the Imperial ton (or long ton).
More information on the Short ton (or American / English ton).