Convert US Ton (Short) (ton (US)) to Kiloton (Metric) (kt) instantly.
About these units
US Ton (Short) (ton (US))
The US short ton equals 2,000 pounds (907.18474 kilograms) and is widely used in American industry, shipping, mining, agriculture, and engineering. Its definition at 2,000 pounds makes calculations convenient within the imperial system but creates potential confusion internationally, where the metric ton is standard. In markets such as coal, steel, and chemicals, contracts often specify the unit explicitly to avoid ambiguity. The US ton's role in commercial regulation, freight classification, and manufacturing ensures that it remains deeply embedded in American economic activity despite the global rise of the metric system.
Kiloton (Metric) (kt)
A kiloton, equal to 1,000 metric tons, is used in large-scale industrial, geological, and agricultural contexts. However, the term is better known for expressing explosive yields, particularly of nuclear weapons. Scientists estimate the energy release of explosions by comparing them to the detonation of 1,000 tons of TNT. For example, the Hiroshima bomb had a yield of about 15 kilotons. Outside military contexts, kilotons appear in discussions of carbon emissions, waste production, and global resource extraction. They provide a manageable scale for describing quantities too large for tons but not yet at the megaton level.