Convert metric tons to long tons (imperial tons) for international shipping, cargo calculations, and trade. Accurate converter with real-world examples and industry applications.
1 ton equals 0.9842069999999999 long ton
Formula: long tn = ton × 0.892857
Understanding the difference between metric tons (tonnes) and long tons is critical for international commerce. One metric ton equals approximately 0.98421 long tons, while one long ton equals approximately 1.01605 metric tons. This seemingly small difference can represent significant weight discrepancies in shipping, manufacturing, and trade operations across different regions.
In international shipping and trade, a 1% conversion error on a 10,000 metric ton cargo shipment results in a 100-ton miscalculation—potentially costing thousands of dollars in freight charges, customs declarations, or regulatory compliance issues. Accurate conversion is essential for contract negotiations, legal documentation, and equipment capacity planning.
Shipping companies operate across multiple regulatory systems where cargo weights must be declared in both metric and long tons for compliance with different port authorities and maritime regulations. Accurate conversion ensures proper vessel loading calculations, prevents overweight violations, and maintains accurate billing across international routes.
Steel producers and metal traders operate in global markets where specifications must be converted between metric and long ton measurements. British and Commonwealth steel mills historically use long tons, while continental European and Asian manufacturers use metric tons, requiring accurate conversion for supply contracts and quality certifications.
| tons | long tons |
|---|---|
| 10 t | 9.84207 LT |
| 50 t | 49.21035 LT |
| 100 t | 98.4207 LT |
| 500 t | 492.1035 LT |
| 1000 t | 984.207 LT |
Formula: LT = t × conversion factor
The ton is a widely used unit for measuring weight. It is commonly used in various applications and industries worldwide.
The long ton is a widely used unit for measuring weight. It is commonly used in various applications and industries worldwide.
This ton to long ton converter uses high-precision conversion factors to ensure accurate results for professional and academic use.
Our calculator provides results with up to 10 decimal places for maximum accuracy.
One metric ton equals 0.98421 long tons (or approximately 0.984 long tons for quick mental calculation). This means a metric ton is slightly lighter than a long ton. If you have 1,000 metric tons, that equals 984.21 long tons. The metric ton is defined as exactly 1,000 kilograms (2,204.62 pounds), while the long ton is exactly 2,240 pounds, making the long ton heavier by about 35.84 kilograms.
Historical development created this division: the long ton (2,240 pounds) developed in medieval England and persisted throughout the British Empire; the metric ton (1,000 kilograms) was created in 1795 with the metric system and adopted by continental Europe and most of the world. Britain's late adoption of the metric system (1965 for general use, still using imperial for some applications) meant shipping systems developed around long tons. Today, international maritime law standardizes on metric tons, but UK legacy systems and some Commonwealth operations still use long tons.
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