Hundredweight (US) (cwt)
The short hundredweight (also called the cental or the US hundredweight) is an American unit of mass equal to exactly 100 pounds or approximately 45.359 kilograms. Abbreviated as "cwt", it is simpler than the British long hundredweight (112 pounds) and forms the basis of the US short ton (20 short hundredweights = 2,000 pounds).
Definition
One short hundredweight equals exactly 100 avoirdupois pounds, 1/20 of a short ton, approximately 45.3592 kilograms, or approximately 0.8929 long hundredweights. Unlike the British long hundredweight (112 lbs), the US short hundredweight is a clean 100 pounds.
History
When the United States developed its own customary measurement system, it simplified the British hundredweight from 112 to 100 pounds, creating a tidier decimal relationship. This 100-pound "short" hundredweight became standard in American commerce. The short hundredweight was widely used in US agriculture, commodity trading, and freight pricing. While still technically in use, it has been largely supplanted by pounds and metric tons in modern commerce.
Common Uses
The short hundredweight appears in US agricultural commodity pricing - some grain, cotton, and livestock prices are quoted per hundredweight (per cwt). Cattle and hog prices at US livestock auctions are often given in dollars per hundredweight. Freight rates for some carriers are quoted per cwt. In modern US commerce, the short hundredweight is declining as metric tons and pounds become more common.
Did You Know? Facts About Hundredweight (US)
- US cattle prices are traditionally quoted in dollars per hundredweight - a cow selling at $150/cwt and weighing 1,200 lbs would cost $1,800.
- The short hundredweight is exactly 100 pounds, while the British long hundredweight is 112 pounds - the difference caused centuries of trade disputes.
- The abbreviation "cwt" is the same for both versions, adding to the confusion.
- The US simplified the hundredweight to 100 pounds partly because decimal math is easier than dividing by 112.
- Some US feed stores still price livestock feed by the hundredweight.