UK Ton-force (LTf) - Unit Information & Conversion

Quick Answer

What is UK Ton-force? A UK ton-force (long ton-force, LTf) is the force exerted by a long ton (2,240 lb) mass in Earth's standard gravity. 1 LTf = 9,964.02 newtons = 9.96 kilonewtons = 2,240 pounds-force = 1.016 metric ton-force. Historically used in British and Commonwealth engineering for structural loads, crane capacities, and ship displacement before metrication. Use our force converter to convert UK ton-force to newtons, kilonewtons, and other units instantly.

Key Facts: Ton-force (UK)

Property	Value
Symbol	LTf
Quantity	Force
System	Metric/SI Derived
Derived from	Newton
Category	Force
Standard Body	NIST / ISO

Quick Comparison Table

UK Ton-force	Kilonewtons	Pounds-force	Context	Convert Now
0.1	0.996	224	Small load	LTf to kN →
0.5	4.98	1,120	Half long ton	LTf to kN →
1	9.96	2,240	1 long ton weight	LTf to N →
5	49.8	11,200	Truck weight	LTf to kN →
10	99.6	22,400	Heavy truck	LTf to kN →
100	996	224,000	Large crane	LTf to kN →

Definition

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)

History

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in 1965, the long ton was gradually replaced by the metric tonne (1,000 kg), though legacy equipment, old drawings, and historical documents still reference long ton-force.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.

Common Uses

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.

Real-World Examples

Historical Ship Displacement:

• Destroyer (WWII era): 1,500-3,000 LTf
• Light cruiser: 5,000-10,000 LTf
• Battleship: 30,000-70,000 LTf
• Aircraft carrier: 20,000-60,000 LTf
• Merchant ship: 5,000-50,000 LTf displacement
• Supertanker: 100,000-500,000 LTf

Structural Engineering (Pre-1970s):

• Building column design load: 10-100 LTf
• Bridge pier capacity: 100-1,000 LTf
• Crane hook rating: 1-100 LTf
• Foundation bearing capacity: 50-500 LTf
• Dock bollard load: 10-100 LTf
• Railway bridge loading: 50-200 LTf

Industrial Equipment:

• Hydraulic press (British): 10-500 LTf capacity
• Forging hammer: 1-50 LTf impact
• Rolling mill: 100-1,000 LTf force
• Steam hammer: 5-100 LTf
• Industrial crane: 5-100 LTf capacity
• Lifting gear: 1-50 LTf safe working load

Weight Comparisons:

• 1 LTf = 2,240 lbf = 1.016 metric tonnes
• 1 LTf = 1.12 US tons (short tons)
• Small car: ~0.8-1.2 LTf
• Delivery truck: 3-8 LTf
• Railway locomotive: 50-150 LTf

Real-World Examples

UK Engineering Specifications

Ton-force used in British and Commonwealth engineering:

Equipment/Structure	Capacity (tonf)	In Kilonewtons	Application
Bridge design	100-2,000	890-17,800	Load rating
Crane specification	50-500	445-4,450	Lifting equipment
Building column	100-500	890-4,450	Structural design
Railway rail	5-20	45-178	Train load
Industrial equipment	10-200	89-1,780	Heavy machinery

Commonwealth Vehicle Standards

Gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR):

Vehicle Class	Weight (tonf)	In Kilonewtons	UK/Commonwealth
Van	2-4	18-36	Small commercial
Rigid truck	15-25	134-223	Single vehicle
Articulated	32-40	285-356	Tractor-trailer
Heavy haul	40+	356+	Specialized

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 →