Grams to Kilograms Converter
Move the decimal three places — with a chart to check against
One kilogram is exactly 1000 grams. To convert grams to kilograms, divide by 1000, or move the decimal point three places left.
A kilogram is exactly a thousand grams. It is the easiest conversion in the kitchen and also the easiest to get wrong by a factor of ten, because it lives entirely in where you put the decimal point.
The conversion matters most when scaling recipes up. Bread and pizza recipes written for a bakery are usually in kilograms; the same recipe for one loaf is in grams.
Reference table
| grams | kilograms | pounds | ounces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 0.1 kg | 0.22 lb | 3.53 oz |
| 250 g | 0.25 kg | 0.551 lb | 8.82 oz |
| 500 g | 0.5 kg | 1.1 lb | 17.64 oz |
| 750 g | 0.75 kg | 1.65 lb | 26.46 oz |
| 1000 g | 1 kg | 2.2 lb | 35.27 oz |
| 1250 g | 1.25 kg | 2.76 lb | 44.09 oz |
| 1500 g | 1.5 kg | 3.31 lb | 52.91 oz |
| 2000 g | 2 kg | 4.41 lb | 70.55 oz |
| 2500 g | 2.5 kg | 5.51 lb | 88.18 oz |
| 5000 g | 5 kg | 11.02 lb | 176.4 oz |
| 7500 g | 7.5 kg | 16.53 lb | 264.6 oz |
| 10000 g | 10 kg | 22.05 lb | 352.7 oz |
How to convert without thinking about it
The decimal-point error is the one to watch. Typing 0.5 kg when you meant 0.05 kg gives you ten times the salt. Reading a scale that has quietly switched from grams to kilograms does the same thing in reverse. If a number looks surprising, it usually is.
- Grams to kilograms: divide by 1000 — 2500 g becomes 2.5 kg
- Kilograms to grams: multiply by 1000 — 0.75 kg becomes 750 g
- Half a kilo is 500 g, a quarter kilo is 250 g
- A gram is a thousandth of a kilogram, and a milligram is a thousandth of a gram
When bakers actually use kilograms
Professional bread formulas are written in baker's percentages against a total flour weight, and that flour weight is normally a round number of kilograms. A 2 kg flour batch at 68% hydration needs 1360 g of water.
Scaling a home recipe up for a crowd runs into the same territory. Four batches of a 500 g flour dough is 2 kg, and at that point it is easier to work in kilograms and let the calculator handle the grams.
Kilograms, pounds and the shopping list
One kilogram is 2.205 pounds. Supermarket packs cluster around round metric weights outside the US and round imperial weights inside it, which is why a 1 kg bag of flour and a 2 lb bag are not the same amount — the 2 lb bag is 907 g, about 9% less.
If you are following a recipe that assumes a whole bag of something, check the actual weight printed on the bag rather than assuming.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams are in a kilogram?
Exactly 1000 grams make 1 kilogram.
How do I convert grams to kilograms?
Divide the number of grams by 1000, which is the same as moving the decimal point three places to the left. 2500 g becomes 2.5 kg.
How many kilograms is 500 grams?
500 grams is 0.5 kilograms — half a kilo.
Is a kilogram bigger than a pound?
Yes. One kilogram is 2.205 pounds, so a kilogram is more than twice a pound.