UnitsConverter

UK Ton-force to Kip Converter

Convert UK tons-force to kips with our free online force converter.

Quick Answer

1 UK Ton-force = 2.24 kips

Formula: UK Ton-force × conversion factor = Kip

Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.

Our Accuracy Guarantee

All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.

Last verified: December 2025Reviewed by: Sam Mathew, Software Engineer

UK Ton-force to Kip Calculator

How to Use the UK Ton-force to Kip Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (UK Ton-force).
  2. The converted value in Kip will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Force category.
  4. Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
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How to Convert UK Ton-force to Kip: Step-by-Step Guide

Converting UK Ton-force to Kip involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

kip = LTf × 2.24

Example Calculation:

1 LTf = 2.24 kip

Disclaimer: For Reference Only

These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.

Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.

Need to convert to other force units?

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📋 Unit Symbols

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What is a UK Ton-force and a Kip?

UK ton-force (long ton-force) is the force exerted by one long ton (2,240 pounds) under standard gravity.

Formula: 1 LTf = 2,240 lbf

Conversions:

  • 1 LTf = 9,964.02 N (newtons)
  • 1 LTf = 9.96402 kN (kilonewtons)
  • 1 LTf = 2,240 lbf (pounds-force)
  • 1 LTf = 1,016.05 kgf (kilogram-force)
  • 1 LTf = 1.01605 metric ton-force
  • 1 LTf = 1.12 US ton-force (short ton-force)

A kip equals 1,000 pounds-force. It is a standard unit in US structural engineering.

Formula: 1 kip = 1,000 lbf

Conversions:

  • 1 kip = 1,000 lbf (pounds-force)
  • 1 kip = 4,448.222 N (newtons)
  • 1 kip = 4.448222 kN (kilonewtons)
  • 1 kip = 453.592 kgf (kilogram-force)
  • 1 kip = 0.5 ton-force (US short ton)
  • 1 kip = 4.448 × 10⁶ dynes

Note: The UK Ton-force is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Kip belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

History of the UK Ton-force and Kip

The UK ton-force is based on the long ton, part of the British imperial system. The long ton of 2,240 pounds (20 hundredweight of 112 pounds each) was the standard ton in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries for centuries. It was used extensively in British engineering, particularly in shipping (where "displacement tonnage" used long tons), structural engineering, and heavy industry. When the UK began metrication in 1965, the long ton was gradually replaced by the metric tonne (1,000 kg), though legacy equipment, old drawings, and historical documents still reference long ton-force. The unit persists in some traditional industries and historical contexts.

The kip was introduced in American structural engineering during the early 20th century as building sizes increased and forces became too large for convenient expression in pounds. The term combines "kilo-" (meaning thousand) with "pound" to create "kip." It became standardized in US building codes, structural steel design manuals, and engineering textbooks. Organizations like the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and American Concrete Institute (ACI) use kips as the primary force unit in their design specifications. While the rest of the world uses kilonewtons, American engineers continue to work primarily in kips for structural calculations.

Common Uses and Applications: UK tons-force vs kips

Explore the typical applications for both UK Ton-force (imperial/US) and Kip (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for UK tons-force

Historical British Engineering: Pre-1970s structural calculations and specifications.

Shipping Industry: Older ship displacement measurements, cargo capacity.

Legacy Equipment: Crane ratings, press capacity from British manufacturers.

Commonwealth Countries: Historical engineering documents in former British territories.

Archival Research: Understanding older technical drawings and specifications.

When to Use kips

Structural Steel Design: Beam capacities, column loads, connection forces.

Concrete Engineering: Rebar tension, slab loads, foundation bearing capacity.

Building Codes: Load specifications, safety factors, structural requirements.

Construction: Equipment ratings, material strength, lifting capacity.

Civil Engineering: Bridge design, highway loads, retaining wall pressures.

Additional Unit Information

About UK Ton-force (LTf)

How do I convert UK ton-force to kilonewtons?

Formula: kN = LTf × 9.96402 (approximately LTf × 10)

Examples:

  • 1 LTf = 9.96 kN
  • 5 LTf = 49.8 kN
  • 10 LTf = 99.6 kN
  • 100 LTf = 996 kN

Quick approximation: Multiply by 10 for rough conversion.

UK Ton-force to Kilonewtons converter →

What is the difference between UK and US ton-force?

UK ton-force (long ton-force):

  • Based on 2,240 pounds
  • 1 LTf = 9.964 kN = 1.016 metric tf
  • Used in British Commonwealth

US ton-force (short ton-force):

  • Based on 2,000 pounds
  • 1 US tonf = 8.896 kN = 0.907 metric tf
  • Used in United States

Conversion: 1 UK ton-force = 1.12 US ton-force

The 12% difference causes confusion in international specifications. Always clarify "long ton" or "short ton" to avoid errors.

US Ton-force to UK Ton-force converter →

How do UK ton-force and metric ton-force compare?

1 UK ton-force = 1.01605 metric ton-force

They are very close (only ~1.6% difference):

  • 1 long ton = 2,240 lb = 1,016 kg
  • 1 metric ton = 1,000 kg = 2,205 lb

Quick conversions:

  • 1 LTf ≈ 1.016 tf (metric)
  • 10 LTf ≈ 10.16 tf
  • 100 LTf ≈ 101.6 tf

Practical note: For rough estimates, UK and metric ton-force are nearly equal, but always use precise conversions for engineering calculations.

Metric Ton-force to UK Ton-force converter →

Why did the UK stop using long ton-force?

Metrication: UK adopted SI units starting in 1965, gradually phasing out imperial units.

International trade: Metric system became global standard for commerce and engineering.

Confusion reduction: Multiple ton definitions (long, short, metric) created errors.

EU alignment: European Union used metric system exclusively.

Modern practice: Engineering now uses kilonewtons (kN) and metric tonnes.

Legacy persistence: Still appears in old ships, historical documents, and traditional industries.

Today, use kilonewtons for force or metric tonnes for mass in UK engineering.

Convert UK ton-force to other force units →

About Kip (kip)

How do I convert kips to pounds-force?

Formula: lbf = kip × 1,000

Examples:

  • 0.5 kip = 500 lbf
  • 1 kip = 1,000 lbf
  • 5 kip = 5,000 lbf
  • 10 kip = 10,000 lbf

Simple rule: Multiply by 1,000 or add three zeros.

Kips to Pounds-force converter →

How many kips equal one kilonewton?

1 kilonewton = 0.2248 kips (approximately 0.225 kips)

Quick conversions:

  • 1 kN = 0.225 kip
  • 10 kN = 2.25 kip
  • 100 kN = 22.5 kip
  • 1,000 kN = 225 kip

Reverse: 1 kip = 4.448 kN

Kilonewtons to Kips converter →

Why do American engineers use kips instead of kilonewtons?

Historical practice: Kips have been standard in US engineering since the early 1900s.

Building codes: US codes (IBC, ASCE 7) specify loads in pounds and kips.

Engineering education: American universities teach structural design in kips.

Industry standards: AISC Steel Manual, ACI Concrete Code use kips.

Existing infrastructure: Decades of drawings, specifications, and software use kips.

Convenience: For US engineers working in imperial units, kips integrate naturally with feet, inches, and pounds per square foot.

While metric units (kN) are standard internationally, the kip remains deeply embedded in American structural engineering practice.

What is a kip per square inch (ksi)?

ksi = kips per square inch - a unit of stress or pressure.

Common use: Material strength specifications

  • Structural steel: 36-100 ksi yield strength
  • Concrete: 3-10 ksi compressive strength
  • Aluminum: 30-70 ksi tensile strength

Conversion: 1 ksi = 6.895 MPa (megapascals)

Note: ksi is to stress what kip is to force - a convenient large unit avoiding excessive digits.

Convert kips to other force units →

Conversion Table: UK Ton-force to Kip

UK Ton-force (LTf)Kip (kip)
0.51.12
12.24
1.53.36
24.48
511.2
1022.4
2556
50112
100224
250560
5001,120
1,0002,240

People Also Ask

How do I convert UK Ton-force to Kip?

To convert UK Ton-force to Kip, enter the value in UK Ton-force in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our force converter page to convert between other units in this category.

Learn more →

What is the conversion factor from UK Ton-force to Kip?

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between UK Ton-force and Kip. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.

Can I convert Kip back to UK Ton-force?

Yes! You can easily convert Kip back to UK Ton-force by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Kip to UK Ton-force converter page. You can also explore other force conversions on our category page.

Learn more →

What are common uses for UK Ton-force and Kip?

UK Ton-force and Kip are both standard units used in force measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our force converter for more conversion options.

For more force conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.

Helpful Conversion Guides

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📚 How to Convert Units

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🔢 Conversion Formulas

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Verified Against Authority Standards

All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.

NIST Reference on Constants, Units and Uncertainty

National Institute of Standards and Technology — Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions

BIPM SI Units

Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards

ISO 80000

International Organization for Standardization — Quantities and units international standards series

Last verified: December 3, 2025