Quintal vs. Ton: What's the Difference?
By Aimie Carlson || Updated on May 20, 2024
Quintal is a unit of weight equal to 100 kilograms or approximately 220.46 pounds, used primarily in Europe. A ton, in the US, is a unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds (907.18 kilograms), while in the UK, a ton is 2,240 pounds (1,016.05 kilograms).
Key Differences
Quintal is a metric unit of weight commonly used in Europe and is defined as 100 kilograms. It is less familiar in the United States, where metric units are less prevalent in everyday use. A ton, on the other hand, varies between the US and the UK. In the United States, a ton, also known as a short ton, equals 2,000 pounds (907.18 kilograms). The UK ton, or long ton, is equivalent to 2,240 pounds (1,016.05 kilograms).
Quintal is used more frequently in agricultural contexts, particularly in European countries. This unit is suitable for weighing large quantities of produce, such as grains or livestock. The ton, in both its forms, is widely used in industries such as shipping, construction, and mining. The short ton is the standard in the US, whereas the long ton is used in the UK and some Commonwealth countries.
The conversion between quintal and ton can be straightforward when dealing with the metric quintal (100 kilograms) and the short ton (907.18 kilograms). This is because the quintal is part of the metric system, simplifying calculations.
For historical context, the quintal originates from the Latin word "centenarius," meaning "hundred," reflecting its definition of 100 kilograms. The term "ton" comes from the Old English "tun," meaning a large cask, indicative of its large weight capacity.
Comparison Chart
Weight in kilograms
100 kilograms
907.18 kg (short ton) / 1,016.05 kg (long ton)
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Usage region
Primarily Europe
US (short ton), UK/Commonwealth (long ton)
Common use
Agriculture
Industry (shipping, construction)
Origin of term
Latin "centenarius"
Old English "tun"
Conversion factor
1 quintal = 0.1 metric tons
1 short ton = 20 quintals
Quintal and Ton Definitions
Quintal
A measurement commonly used in European agriculture.
The price of rice is calculated per quintal.
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Ton
A unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds in the US.
The truck can carry a load of 5 tons.
Quintal
Part of the metric system for large-scale weights.
The shipment contained 10 quintals of grain.
Ton
Known as a short ton in the United States.
The factory produces 50 short tons of steel daily.
Quintal
A unit of weight equal to 100 kilograms.
The farmer sold 5 quintals of wheat.
Ton
Widely used in shipping and heavy industries.
The construction project required 100 tons of cement.
Quintal
Equivalent to approximately 220.46 pounds.
One quintal of apples weighs around 220 pounds.
Ton
In the UK, a unit of weight equal to 2,240 pounds.
The cargo ship carried 300 long tons of goods.
Quintal
A unit of mass in the metric system equal to 100 kilograms.
Ton
A unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds (0.907 metric ton or 907.18 kilograms). Also called net ton, short ton.
Quintal
See hundredweight.
Ton
A unit of weight equal to 2,240 pounds (1.016 metric tons or 1,016.05 kilograms). Also called long ton.
Quintal
(historical) hundredweight, 100 or 112 English or American pounds.
Ton
A metric ton. See Table at measurement.
Quintal
(historical) Various other similar units of weight in other systems.
Ton
A unit of capacity for cargo in maritime shipping, normally estimated at 40 cubic feet.
Quintal
An unofficial metric unit equal to 100 kg.
Ton
A unit of internal capacity of a ship equal to 100 cubic feet.
Quintal
A hundredweight, either 112 or 100 pounds, according to the scale used. Cf. Cental.
Ton
A unit for measuring the displacement of ships, equal to 35 cubic feet, and supposed to equal the volume taken by a long ton of seawater.
Quintal
A metric measure of weight, being 100,000 grams, or 100 kilograms, equal to 220.46 pounds avoirdupois.
Ton
A large extent, amount, or number
Has a ton of work.
Gets tons of fan mail.
Quintal
A unit of weight equal to 100 kilograms
Ton
Used adverbially with a or in the plural to mean "to a great degree or extent" or "frequently"
Felt a ton better.
Has seen her tons lately.
Quintal
A United States unit of weight equivalent to 100 pounds
Ton
A unit of weight (mass) equal to 2240 pounds (a long ton) or 2000 pounds (a short ton) or 1000 kilograms (a metric ton).
Quintal
Often used in markets and trade within Europe.
The market price is set at $30 per quintal.
Ton
A unit of volume; register ton.
Ton
In refrigeration and air conditioning, a unit of thermal power defined as 12,000 BTU/h (about 3.514 kW or 3024 kcal/h), originally the rate of cooling provided by uniform isothermal melting of one short ton of ice per day at 32 °F (0 °C).
Ton
A large amount.
I’ve got a ton of work to do.
I've got tons of work to do.
Ton
(slang) A speed of 100 mph.
Ton
One hundred pounds sterling.
Ton
(cricket) One hundred runs.
Ton
One hundred points scored.
Ton
Fashion, the current style, the vogue.
Ton
Fashionable society; those in style.
Ton
The common tunny, or horse mackerel.
Ton
The prevailing fashion or mode; vogue; as, things of ton.
If our people of ton are selfish, at any rate they show they are selfish.
Ton
A measure of weight or quantity.
Ton
The weight of twenty hundredweight.
Ton
Forty cubic feet of space, being the unit of measurement of the burden, or carrying capacity, of a vessel; as a vessel of 300 tons burden.
Ton
A certain weight or quantity of merchandise, with reference to transportation as freight; as, six hundred weight of ship bread in casks, seven hundred weight in bags, eight hundred weight in bulk; ten bushels of potatoes; eight sacks, or ten barrels, of flour; forty cubic feet of rough, or fifty cubic feet of hewn, timber, etc.
Ton
A United States unit of weight equivalent to 2000 pounds
Ton
A British unit of weight equivalent to 2240 pounds
Ton
Commonly referred to in both short and long forms depending on the region.
The annual coal production is measured in tons.
FAQs
How many pounds are in a quintal?
There are approximately 220.46 pounds in a quintal.
Where is the quintal primarily used?
The quintal is primarily used in Europe.
What is a quintal?
A quintal is a metric unit of weight equal to 100 kilograms.
What is a ton in the UK?
In the UK, a ton, or long ton, equals 2,240 pounds.
Is a ton part of the metric system?
No, a ton is not part of the metric system; it is part of the imperial system.
What industries use quintals?
Quintals are commonly used in agriculture, especially in Europe.
What is the historical origin of quintal?
Quintal originates from the Latin word "centenarius," meaning "hundred."
What is a ton in the US?
In the US, a ton, or short ton, equals 2,000 pounds.
How does a quintal compare to a short ton?
One short ton equals approximately 9.07 quintals.
What industries use tons?
Tons are used in shipping, construction, and heavy industries.
Can quintals be converted to tons?
Yes, quintals can be converted to tons using appropriate conversion factors.
Which unit is more common in Europe?
The quintal is more common in Europe.
How does a quintal compare to a long ton?
One long ton equals approximately 10.16 quintals.
Which unit is more common in the US?
The ton (short ton) is more common in the US.
Is a short ton larger than a quintal?
Yes, a short ton is larger than a quintal.
How many kilograms are in a long ton?
A long ton is equal to 1,016.05 kilograms.
Is a long ton larger than a quintal?
Yes, a long ton is significantly larger than a quintal.
Is quintal part of the metric system?
Yes, a quintal is part of the metric system.
What is the historical origin of ton?
Ton comes from the Old English "tun," meaning a large cask.
How many kilograms are in a short ton?
A short ton is equal to 907.18 kilograms.
About Author
Written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
