Ton is the name of three different units used to measure weight and capacity. The units are the long ton, short ton, and metric ton. The long ton equals 2,240 pounds (1,016.047 kilograms), the short ton equals 2,000 pounds (907.185 kilograms), and the metric ton equals 1,000 kilograms, or 2,204.623 pounds. Most countries use the metric ton. The United States uses the short ton most often. However, the long ton and the metric ton are also used. For instance, coal is weighed and sold at the mines by the long ton, and sold to customers by the short ton. U.S. custom houses use the metric ton in weighing.
