There are 1,000 g in a kilogram. That is the answer, and it is the simplest conversion in the metric system: 1 kilogram equals 1,000 grams, which equals 2.2046 pounds, which equals 35.27 ounces. If a recipe calls for 2 kilograms of flour, weigh 2,000 grams. If your scale reads grams and the recipe is written in kilograms, divide the grams by a thousand. This page gives you the table, real cooking examples, and the tricks for converting between kilograms and pounds, because that is the conversion you will actually use in the kitchen.
The conversion table
| Kilograms | Grams | Pounds | Ounces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 kg | 250 g | 0.55 lb | 8.82 oz |
| 1/2 kg | 500 g | 1.10 lb | 17.64 oz |
| 3/4 kg | 750 g | 1.65 lb | 26.46 oz |
| 1 kg | 1,000 g | 2.20 lb | 35.27 oz |
| 1 1/2 kg | 1,500 g | 3.31 lb | 52.91 oz |
| 2 kg | 2,000 g | 4.41 lb | 70.55 oz |
| 3 kg | 3,000 g | 6.61 lb | 105.82 oz |
| 5 kg | 5,000 g | 11.02 lb | 176.37 oz |
| 10 kg | 10,000 g | 22.05 lb | 352.74 oz |
The pound and ounce figures are rounded to two decimal places. The gram column is exact, because a kilogram is defined as 1,000 grams.
Worked example 1: a bag of flour and a recipe in grams
You have a 1-kilogram bag of flour, and a recipe calls for 500 grams. Half a kilogram is 500 grams, so you need half the bag. If the recipe calls for 750 grams, you need three quarters of the bag, and you will have 250 grams left. The conversion is so simple that it is easy to forget it is a conversion at all: a kilogram is a thousand grams, so you move the decimal point three places. That is the point of the metric system, and it is why recipes written in grams are easier to scale than recipes written in ounces and pounds.
Worked example 2: a roast that needs weighing in kilograms
An American recipe calls for a 3-pound roast, and you are buying meat in a shop that sells by the kilogram. Three pounds is 1.36 kilograms, so look for a joint labelled 1.3 to 1.4 kilograms. If the joint is 1.5 kilograms, that is 3.3 pounds, and you should add about 10 minutes to the cooking time. The weight matters because the cooking time is calculated from it, and the kilogram-to-gram conversion is the bridge: 1.36 kilograms is 1,360 grams, and your scale will read grams, so weigh 1,360 grams and you have the right joint.
Worked example 3: a large batch, scaled in kilograms
You are making jam and the recipe calls for 2 kilograms of fruit and 2 kilograms of sugar. Two kilograms is 2,000 grams of each, which is 4.41 pounds of each, and you will need a pot that holds at least 4 litres, because the fruit and sugar together weigh 4 kilograms before they cook down. Working in kilograms makes the maths easy: 2 kilograms plus 2 kilograms is 4 kilograms, and the ratio is 1 to 1, which is obvious in kilograms and less obvious in pounds, where 4.41 plus 4.41 is 8.82. That is why large-batch cooking is easier in metric units.
Method and source
A kilogram is defined as 1,000 grams, by the definition of the metric system. The gram is the base unit of mass, and the kilogram is a thousand grams, just as a kilometre is a thousand metres and a litre is a thousand millilitres. The kilogram was originally defined as the mass of a litre of water, and it is now defined by a fixed value of the Planck constant, but for cooking, the definition that matters is the simple one: a kilogram is a thousand grams. A kilogram is 2.2046 pounds, so a pound is 0.4536 kilograms, and the two conversions are inverses of each other. In practice, most people round a kilogram to 2.2 pounds, which is close enough for cooking but not exact.
Practical guidance
Buy a kitchen scale that reads grams, and use it for every recipe that gives a weight. Weighing is more accurate than measuring by volume, because a cup of flour can weigh anywhere from 120 to 142 grams depending on how you scoop it, while 500 grams is always 500 grams. When you convert kilograms to grams, move the decimal point three places to the right: 1.5 kilograms is 1,500 grams, and 0.25 kilograms is 250 grams. When you convert grams to kilograms, move it three places to the left: 750 grams is 0.75 kilograms. And remember the anchor numbers: a quarter kilogram is 250 grams, half a kilogram is 500 grams, three quarters is 750 grams, and a kilogram is 1,000 grams.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams are in 1 kilogram?
There are 1,000 g in 1 kilogram. That is the definition of the kilogram in the metric system, and it is exact. A kilogram is also 2.2 pounds and 35.27 ounces.
How many grams are in half a kilogram?
There are 500 g in half a kilogram. Half a kilogram is also 1.1 pounds and 17.64 ounces. It is a common bag size for flour, sugar, and rice.
How many grams are in 2 kilograms?
There are 2,000 g in 2 kilograms. Two kilograms is also 4.41 pounds and 70.55 ounces. It is a common amount for a large batch of jam or a roast.
How many kilograms are in 1,000 grams?
There is 1 kilogram in 1,000 grams. One thousand grams is the definition of a kilogram, so if a recipe gives an amount in grams that adds up to 1,000, you can weigh it as a kilogram instead.
How many kilograms are in a pound?
There are 0.454 kg in a pound. A pound is 453.6 grams, and 453.6 divided by 1,000 is 0.4536, which is usually rounded to 0.454 kg.
Is a kilogram the same everywhere?
Yes. A kilogram is 1,000 grams everywhere in the world, by the definition of the metric system. It is the one weight unit that does not vary between countries, which is why it is the safest unit to use in an international recipe.
Why the kilogram is easier than the pound
The kilogram is easier than the pound for one reason: it is decimal. A kilogram is a thousand grams, so half a kilogram is 500 grams, a quarter is 250 grams, and a tenth is 100 grams, and the maths is a matter of moving a decimal point. A pound is 16 ounces, so half a pound is 8 ounces, a quarter is 4 ounces, and a tenth is 1.6 ounces, which is an awkward number that nobody wants to measure. That is why recipes written in grams are easier to scale, easier to halve, and easier to double than recipes written in pounds and ounces. If you are writing a recipe for someone else, give the weight in grams as well as in pounds, because the gram figure is the one that scales cleanly, and the person following your recipe will thank you for it.