Convert Kilograms to Pounds the Easy Way!

/ Testify Strength & Conditioning/

As a lifter, you may occasionally find it necessary to do some mental math and convert from kilograms to pounds. The common recommendation is to take the number of kilograms, multiply that number by 2.2, and you’ll have your answer (the conversion factor is actually 2.2046226 . . ., but let’s not get carried away). If you’ve been doing this . . . stop. Stop it right now.

Do this instead:

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  1. Take the number of kilograms and double it.

  2. Find 10% of your result (i.e., move the decimal point one place to the left).

  3. Add the two numbers from step 1 and step 2 together.

  4. Amaze your friends with your lightning-fast mental math.

This method is equivalent to multiplying by 2.2, but it’s easier to do in your head than trying to multiply by 2.2.

Let’s try this out with 90 kg: 

  1. 90 x 2 = 180

  2. 10% of 180 = 18 (remember - you’re just moving the decimal point)

  3. 180 + 18 = 198

Thus, 90 kg = 198 lbs.

Here’s a slightly more challenging example with 105 kg:

  1. 105 x 2 = 210

  2. 10% of 210 = 21

  3. 210 + 21 = 231

Thus, 105 kg = 231 lbs.

You’ll note that both 90 kg and 105 kg are multiples of 5, which makes the process fairly straightforward. If you have a weight that isn’t a multiple of 5, you can still use this method, or you can simply use the nearest multiple of 5 and make a small adjustment after the fact (using the knowledge that 1 kg = 2.2 lbs). Let’s try this with 36 kg. Since 36 is close to 35, we’ll use 35 as our “base number”:

  1. 35 x 2 = 70

  2. 10% of 70 = 7

  3. 70 + 7 = 77

  4. Since 36 kg is 1 kg larger than 35 kg, and 1 kg is just a little over 2 lbs, we can add 2 lbs to 77 lbs to get 79 lbs.

Thus, 36 kg is equal to just a bit over 79 lbs (79.366 . . . if you want to compare our approximate answer with the actual value).

With practice, this method will be faster than getting out your phone and using its calculator or asking Siri. It becomes even quicker because you’ll naturally (and almost accidentally) start to memorize the multiples of 5 (i.e., 5 kg = 11 lbs, 10 kg = 22 lbs, 15 kg = 33 lbs, etc.). 

Now you know, and as a famous action figure once said, knowing is half the battle.

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