Stone Unit | All you need to know

The stone (st) is a traditional unit of mass that is equal to 14 pounds avoirdupois or 6.35029318 kilograms. It is mainly used in the United Kingdom and Ireland for measuring human body weight. The unit is not widely used in most other countries, where kilograms or pounds are preferred.

Conversion of Stone

History of Stone Unit

The use of the stone as a weight measure goes back to ancient times. Different regions used different values for a stone, depending on the commodity being weighed, such as wool, grain, or metals. In England, the value was finally standardized at 14 pounds in 1835 under the Weights and Measures Act.

Uses of Stone

  • Body Weight Measurement: In the UK and Ireland, body weight is commonly given in stones and pounds. For example, someone may say, “I weigh 11 stone 4 pounds.”

  • Sports: In boxing, wrestling, and horse racing in the UK, the stone unit is often used to describe the weight of athletes.

  • Historical Trade: In medieval Europe, stones were used to measure wool, a key commodity in trade.

Current Relevance

While the stone is still familiar in everyday life in the UK and Ireland, it is not officially recognized by the International System of Units (SI). Other countries have largely abandoned its use in favor of kilograms or pounds.

Summary

The stone (st) is a historical unit of weight equal to 14 pounds or about 6.35 kilograms. It remains in limited use today, mainly in the UK and Ireland, especially for body weight and sports. Though less common globally, it still holds cultural and historical significance.