Carats to Troy Pounds (ct to lb t) Converter
1 Carat equals 0.0005 Troy Pounds (1 ct = 0.0005 lb t). Convert Carats to Troy Pounds with formula, table, and examples.
One carat equals approximately 0.0005358 troy pounds. The troy pound (373.242 grams or 12 troy ounces) is an archaic precious metals unit, smaller than the common avoirdupois pound (453.592 grams). Each troy pound contains approximately 1,866 carats. While the troy ounce survives in active use, the troy pound itself is largely obsolete, replaced by troy ounces and grams in modern bullion markets.
How to Convert Carats to Troy Pounds
- Take your value in Carats
- Multiply by 0.0005358458
- Read the result in Troy Pounds
Common Carats to Troy Pounds Conversions
| Carats (ct) | Troy Pounds (lb t) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ct | 0.00053585 lb t | |
| 5 ct | 0.00267923 lb t | |
| 10 ct | 0.00535846 lb t | |
| 50 ct | 0.02679229 lb t | |
| 100 ct | 0.05358458 lb t | |
| 500 ct | 0.26792289 lb t | |
| 1,000 ct | 0.53584578 lb t | |
| 2,500 ct | 1.33961444 lb t | |
| 5,000 ct | 2.67922888 lb t | |
| 10,000 ct | 5.35845776 lb t | |
| 25,000 ct | 13.3961444 lb t | |
| 50,000 ct | 26.79228881 lb t |
Good to Know About Carats to Troy Pounds Conversion
The troy pound's 12-ounce structure descends directly from the Roman libra (12 unciae), which also gave us the abbreviation 'lb' for pound and the pound sign. The avoirdupois pound's 16-ounce structure was a later medieval innovation for commodity trade. The coexistence of these two 'pounds' of different weights with different numbers of differently-sized 'ounces' is perhaps the single most confusing aspect of the English weight system.
Carats to Troy Pounds: What You Need to Know
The troy pound was historically used for pricing bulk quantities of precious metals. Gold and silver bars were weighed in troy pounds before the modern convention of quoting per troy ounce took over. A troy pound of gold (12 troy ounces) at current prices would be worth roughly 24,000 dollars. A troy pound of diamonds (1,866 carats) would be worth vastly more, potentially tens of millions depending on quality.
What is a Carat? ct
A carat is a unit of mass equal to exactly 200 milligrams (0.2 grams), used for measuring gemstones and pearls. Adopted internationally in 1907 by the Fourth General Conference on Weights and Measures.
Learn more about Carat →What is a Troy Pound? lb t
A troy pound equals 12 troy ounces or 5,760 grains (373.2417216 grams). It is lighter than the avoirdupois pound and is rarely used today outside of historical contexts.
Learn more about Troy Pound →Going the other way? Use our Troy Pounds to Carats converter.
Carats to Troy Pounds FAQ
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One troy pound (373.242 grams) equals approximately 1,866.2 carats. This comes from dividing 373.242 grams by 0.2 grams per carat.
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The troy pound (373.242 g) is lighter than the avoirdupois pound (453.592 g) by about 80 grams. The troy pound has 12 troy ounces, while the avoirdupois pound has 16 regular ounces. Despite the troy ounce being heavier than the avoirdupois ounce, the troy pound ends up lighter because it has fewer ounces.
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The troy pound is essentially obsolete. Even the precious metals industry now uses troy ounces, grams, or kilograms rather than troy pounds. The unit survives mainly in legal definitions and historical references. US law still defines the troy pound but it has no practical application.
Non-Frequently Asked Questions About Carats to Troy Pounds
Questions nobody should ask - but someone did.
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A troy pound of gold (373 grams) at mid-2020s prices is worth roughly 24,000 dollars. A common pound of feathers (454 grams) is worth a few dollars at most. The feathers weigh more but are worth incomparably less. This is the rare case where the lighter thing is astronomically more valuable.
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The troy system predates the avoirdupois system and was based on the Roman libra of 12 unciae (ounces). When the avoirdupois system was introduced for common goods, it used 16 ounces per pound to better suit bulk trade. The precious metals industry kept the older 12-ounce pound. Two parallel systems, both called 'pounds,' with different numbers of 'ounces' - it is the sort of thing that keeps measurement historians employed.
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Because no one has bothered to remove it. The US Mint Act of 1792 defined the troy pound, and while it has been superseded in practice, repealing old measurement laws is nobody's legislative priority. The troy pound sits in the US Code like a dusty antique in an attic - technically still there, functionally forgotten.
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Need the reverse? Use our Troy Pounds to Carats converter. See all Weight & Mass converters.