# Short Tons to Hundredweights (UK) (ton to cwt)

Source: https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/weight/short-tons-to-long-hundredweights/

**1 ton = 17.857142857143 cwt**

One short ton equals approximately 17.857 long hundredweights. This awkward ratio arises from the transatlantic measurement mismatch: the American short ton is 2,000 pounds while the British long hundredweight is 112 pounds, and 2,000 divided by 112 gives the non-round 17.857. This conversion was historically relevant for trade between American and British commodity markets.

## Formula

Apply the conversion factor

## Conversion Table

| Short Tons (ton) | Hundredweights (UK) (cwt) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 ton | 1.7857142857143 cwt |
| 0.25 ton | 4.4642857142857 cwt |
| 0.5 ton | 8.9285714285714 cwt |
| 1 ton | 17.857142857143 cwt |
| 2 ton | 35.714285714286 cwt |
| 5 ton | 89.285714285714 cwt |
| 10 ton | 178.57142857143 cwt |
| 25 ton | 446.42857142857 cwt |
| 50 ton | 892.85714285714 cwt |
| 100 ton | 1785.7142857143 cwt |
| 500 ton | 8928.5714285714 cwt |
| 1000 ton | 17857.142857143 cwt |

## Units

### Short Ton (ton)

A short ton (US ton) is a unit of mass equal to exactly 2,000 pounds or 907.18474 kilograms. It is the standard ton used in the United States for commerce, industry, and shipping.

### Hundredweight (UK) (cwt)

A UK hundredweight (long hundredweight) is exactly 112 pounds or 50.80234544 kilograms. Used in British agriculture and traditional commerce.

## Background

Colonial and post-colonial trade records between America and Britain frequently require converting between short tons and long hundredweights. American exporters sold in short tons while British importers bought in long hundredweights, creating a conversion requirement at every transatlantic transaction.

## Good to Know

The short-ton-to-long-hundredweight conversion is a mathematical fossil of Anglo-American trade rivalry. Two nations that shared a language and a trading relationship could not agree on the size of a hundredweight, producing a conversion factor (17.857) that inconvenienced merchants for two centuries until the metric system provided a neutral alternative.

## FAQ

### How many long hundredweights are in one short ton?

One short ton contains approximately 17.857 long hundredweights. This is 2,000 pounds divided by 112 pounds per long hundredweight.

### How do I convert short tons to long hundredweights?

Multiply short tons by 17.857. For example, 3 short tons equals about 53.57 long hundredweights.

### Why is this ratio not a whole number?

Because 2,000 (pounds per short ton) is not evenly divisible by 112 (pounds per long hundredweight). The American and British systems were not designed to align with each other.

## Non-Frequently Asked Questions

### Is 17.857 the most inconvenient number in transatlantic trade?

It is a strong contender. The number arises from dividing 2,000 by 112, neither of which was designed with the other in mind. If both countries had used the same hundredweight, the ratio would have been either 20 (for 100-pound cwt) or 17.857 (for 112-pound cwt). America chose mathematical simplicity; Britain chose historical continuity; and both got this awkward conversion factor.

### Has the 17.857 ratio ever caused a trade dispute?

Trade disputes between American and British merchants over weight discrepancies were common in the 18th and 19th centuries. The different hundredweights meant that identical quantities described differently, creating opportunities for misunderstanding, sharp practice, and lengthy correspondence between counting houses on both sides of the Atlantic.

### If I ship 18 long hundredweights to America, is that one short ton?

Not quite. 18 long hundredweights is 2,016 pounds, which is 16 pounds over a short ton. The overage is small (0.8 percent) but enough to affect billing in large transactions. Specifying the exact weight system in contracts prevented these discrepancies from accumulating into significant financial disputes.

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## See Also

- [Hundredweights (UK) to Short Tons](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/weight/long-hundredweights-to-short-tons/)