There are 2.2 lb in a kilogram. That is the answer, usually rounded: 1 kilogram equals 2.20462 pounds, which is 2 pounds and 3.27 ounces, or 35.27 ounces. If a recipe calls for 2 kilograms of flour, you need 4.41 pounds. If your scale reads pounds and the recipe is written in kilograms, multiply the kilograms by 2.2. This page gives you the table, real cooking examples, and the rounding rules, because 2.2 is close enough for cooking but not exact, and knowing when the difference matters is the skill.
The conversion table
| Kilograms | Pounds | Ounces | Grams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 kg | 0.55 lb | 8.82 oz | 250 g |
| 1/2 kg | 1.10 lb | 17.64 oz | 500 g |
| 3/4 kg | 1.65 lb | 26.46 oz | 750 g |
| 1 kg | 2.20 lb | 35.27 oz | 1,000 g |
| 1 1/2 kg | 3.31 lb | 52.91 oz | 1,500 g |
| 2 kg | 4.41 lb | 70.55 oz | 2,000 g |
| 3 kg | 6.61 lb | 105.82 oz | 3,000 g |
| 5 kg | 11.02 lb | 176.37 oz | 5,000 g |
| 10 kg | 22.05 lb | 352.74 oz | 10,000 g |
The pound figures are rounded to two decimal places, and the ounce figures are the exact equivalent. A kilogram is defined as 1,000 grams, and a pound is 453.59237 grams, so 1,000 divided by 453.59237 is 2.20462.
Worked example 1: a bag of flour and a recipe in pounds
You have a 1-kilogram bag of flour, and an American recipe calls for 2 pounds. Two pounds is 907 grams, so you need most of the bag — 907 grams out of 1,000 — and you will have 93 grams left. If the recipe calls for 2.2 pounds, that is exactly a kilogram, so you can use the whole bag. The conversion matters most when you are buying in kilograms and cooking in pounds, and the anchor to remember is that a kilogram is 2.2 pounds, which is 2 pounds and a little over 3 ounces.
Worked example 2: a roast that needs weighing in pounds
A European recipe calls for a 1.5-kilogram roast, and your scale reads pounds. One and a half kilograms times 2.2 is 3.3 pounds, so look for a joint labelled 3.3 pounds, or 3 pounds and 5 ounces. If the joint is 3 pounds, that is 1.36 kilograms, and you should reduce the cooking time by about 10 minutes. The weight matters because the cooking time is calculated from it, and the kilogram-to-pound conversion is the bridge between the recipe and the shop label.
Worked example 3: a large batch, scaled in pounds
You are making jam and the recipe calls for 3 kilograms of fruit, but your scale reads pounds. Three kilograms times 2.2 is 6.6 pounds, which is 6 pounds and 10 ounces, and you will need a pot that holds at least 6 litres. Working in pounds makes the maths awkward — 6.6 is not a round number — which is why it is better to switch your scale to grams for a metric recipe. If your scale only reads pounds, weigh the fruit in three batches of 2.2 pounds, which is a kilogram each, and the total will be right.
Method and source
A kilogram is defined as 1,000 grams, and an avoirdupois pound is defined as exactly 453.59237 grams, so 1,000 divided by 453.59237 is 2.20462262, usually rounded to 2.2. The figure 2.2 is close enough for cooking: the error is 0.2 percent, which is less than a gram in a kilogram, and it will not change a recipe. For a precise bake or a large batch, use 2.2046, because the error grows with the amount — 10 kilograms times 2.2 is 22 pounds, but 10 kilograms is really 22.05 pounds, and the difference of 0.05 pounds is 23 grams, which can matter in a precise recipe. In practice, most people use 2.2, and most recipes are forgiving enough that it does not matter.
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 1,000 grams is always 1,000 grams. When you convert kilograms to pounds, multiply by 2.2 and round the answer to the nearest ounce — do not round the conversion factor first. Remember the anchor numbers: a quarter kilogram is about half a pound, half a kilogram is about 1.1 pounds, three quarters is about 1.65 pounds, and a kilogram is about 2.2 pounds. And if your scale has a grams mode, use it for a metric recipe, because grams are the unit the recipe was written in.
Frequently asked questions
How many pounds are in 1 kilogram?
There are 2.2 lb in 1 kilogram, usually rounded, and 2.2046 lb exactly. A kilogram is also 35.27 ounces and 1,000 grams. Use 2.2 for cooking and 2.2046 for a precise bake.
How many pounds are in half a kilogram?
There are 1.1 lb in half a kilogram. Half a kilogram is also 500 grams and 17.64 ounces. It is a common bag size for flour, sugar, and rice.
How many pounds are in 2 kilograms?
There are 4.41 lb in 2 kilograms. Two kilograms is also 2,000 grams and 70.55 ounces. It is a common amount for a large batch of jam or a roast.
How many kilograms are in 2.2 pounds?
There is 1 kilogram in 2.2046 pounds. Two point two pounds is the rounded figure for a kilogram, so if a recipe gives an amount in pounds that adds up to 2.2, you can weigh it as a kilogram instead.
How many pounds are in a kilogram of butter?
There are 2.2 lb in a kilogram of butter, the same as in a kilogram of anything else. A kilogram of butter is 4.4 sticks, which is 8.8 half-cup measures, and it costs more than a pound of butter because it is more than twice as much.
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.
The 2.2 rule and when it breaks
Most cooks remember that a kilogram is 2.2 pounds, and for shopping and for rough cooking, that is enough. But the rule breaks when precision matters, because 2.2 is a rounded figure and the error grows with the amount. Ten kilograms is not 22 pounds, it is 22.05 pounds, and the difference of 0.05 pounds is 23 grams, which can matter in a precise bake or a large batch of dough. The fix is simple: for amounts under a kilogram, use 2.2 and do not worry; for amounts over a kilogram, use 2.2046, or weigh in grams instead. A digital scale that reads grams removes the problem entirely, because grams are the unit the metric recipe was written in, and there is no conversion to get wrong.