Conversion Factor for Grams to Kilograms (and Kilograms to Grams)

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The easiest and fastest ways to convert g to kg and kg to g
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How many grams in a kilogram? How many kilograms in a gram? If you’re used to using U.S. or Imperial measurements, the metric system can seem like a bit of a mystery. That’s where we come in. In this article, we’ll show you how to convert grams to kilograms and kilograms to grams, plus we’ll walk you through examples and explain how to show your work. Ready to ace your next math test? Read on!

Convert Grams to Kilograms

Use this conversion calculator to convert grams to kilograms.

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Things You Should Know

  • To convert grams to kilograms, divide the number of grams by 1,000.
  • Alternatively, move the decimal point in your number 3 spaces to the left. Add zeroes to fill any empty spaces after the decimal point.
  • To convert kilograms to grams, multiply the number of kilograms by 1,000. Or, move the decimal point 3 spaces to the right, filling in any empty spaces with zeroes.
Section 1 of 3:

Grams to Kilograms

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  1. There are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram, so all you have to do is divide by 1,000 to get from grams to kilograms. [1] Set up the equation using fractions, if needed. Put the number of grams over 1 and divide it by 1 kg / 1,000 g (which is the conversion factor). The grams will cancel out to leave you with an answer in kilograms. Make sure to label your answer with the correct units. [2]
    • Example 1: 20,000 grams ÷ 1,000 = 20 kilograms
    • Example 2: 9,135 grams ÷ 1,000 = 9.135 kilograms
  2. The metric system is a base 10 system of measurements. In other words, metric units are always a multiple of 10 apart. Grams and kilograms are a multiple of 1,000 apart, so you can simply move the decimal point 3 places to the left. Remember that for a whole number, the decimal point is to the right of the ones place. Fill in any blank spaces with zeroes, as needed. [3]
    • Example 1: 37 grams = 37 . → 3 . 7 → . 37 → . 037 kilograms
    • Example 2: 4,000 grams = 4,000 . → 400 . 0 → 40 . 00 → 4 . 000 kilograms
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Section 2 of 3:

Kilograms to Grams

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  1. There are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram, so all you have to do is multiply by 1,000 to get from kilograms to grams. [4] Set up the equation using fractions, if needed. Put the number of kilograms over 1 and multiply it by 1,000 g / 1 kg (which is the conversion factor). The grams will cancel out to leave you with an answer in kilograms. [5] Don’t forget to label your answer with the correct units.
    • Example 1: 5 kilograms x 1,000 = 5,000 grams
    • Example 2: 16.505 kilograms x 1,000 = 16,505 grams
  2. Because the metric system is a base 10 system of measurement, metric units are a multiple of 10 apart. Kilograms and grams are a multiple of 1,000 apart. So, all you have to do is move the decimal point 3 places to the right to convert from kilograms to grams. Fill in any blank spaces with zeroes and label your answer with the correct units. [6]
    • Example 1: 50 kilograms = 50 . → 500 . → 5000 . → 50000 . 0 grams
    • Example 2: 1.957 kilograms = 1 . 957 → 19 . 57 → 195 . 7 → 1957 . 0 grams
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Section 3 of 3:

FAQs

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  1. A gram (g) is a unit of measurement for mass in the metric system (also known as the International System of Units, or SI). The base metric unit of mass is 1 gram. A regular paperclip has a mass of about 1 gram. [7] One gram is also approximately equivalent to the mass of one cubic centimeter of water. [8]
  2. A kilogram (kg) is the standard unit of mass in the metric system. It’s approximately equal to the mass of 1,000 cubic centimeters of water. [9]
  3. The metric system is a base 10 system of measurements. In other words, metric units are always a multiple of 10 apart, meaning they get larger or smaller by a power of ten (10). A unit's prefix tells its power. The prefix "kilo-" means that the unit has one thousand (1,000) of the base unit. [10]
    • 1 kilogram (kg) is equal to 1,000 grams (g) and 1 gram (g) is equal to 0.001 kilograms (kg).
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  • Question
    How do you calculate kilograms to grams?
    David Jia
    Math Tutor
    David Jia is an Academic Tutor and the Founder of LA Math Tutoring, a private tutoring company based in Los Angeles, California. With over 10 years of teaching experience, David works with students of all ages and grades in various subjects, as well as college admissions counseling and test preparation for the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and more. After attaining a perfect 800 math score and a 690 English score on the SAT, David was awarded the Dickinson Scholarship from the University of Miami, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Additionally, David has worked as an instructor for online videos for textbook companies such as Larson Texts, Big Ideas Learning, and Big Ideas Math.
    David Jia
    Math Tutor
    Expert Answer
    There are 1000 grams in 1 kilogram. You can remember that because "kilo" means "thousand." If you start with 5000 grams, you would divide by 1000, so the answer would be 5 kilograms. On the other hand if you have 43 kilograms and you want to convert it to grams, you'd multiply by 1000 to get 43,000 grams.
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  • Question
    How can l convert 10g to kg?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Just divide by 1,000 to convert from grams to kilograms. In this case, 10 / 1,000 = 0.01 kg.
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  • Question
    Is it g-kg divide by 1000? Or kg-g divided by 1000?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Divide by 1,000 to convert g to kg, and multiply by 1,000 to convert kg to g.
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      References

      1. ↑ David Jia. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 14 January 2021.
      2. ↑ https://sciencenotes.org/grams-to-kilograms-conversion-examples/
      3. ↑ https://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/DevelopmentalMath/TEXTGROUP-1-8_RESOURCE/U06_L2_T1_text_final.html
      4. ↑ David Jia. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 14 January 2021.
      5. ↑ https://sciencenotes.org/grams-to-kilograms-conversion-examples/
      6. ↑ https://studyskills.southwales.ac.uk/maths/mathematics-learning-resources/maths-topic-locator-numbers/units-measurement-drug-calculations/
      7. ↑ https://content.nroc.org/DevelopmentalMath/COURSE_TEXT_RESOURCE/U06_L2_T1_text_final.html
      8. ↑ https://www.bipm.org/documents/20126/41483022/SI-Brochure-9-EN.pdf
      9. ↑ https://www.bipm.org/documents/20126/41483022/SI-Brochure-9-EN.pdf
      1. ↑ https://content.nroc.org/DevelopmentalMath/COURSE_TEXT_RESOURCE/U06_L2_T1_text_final.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Grams and kilograms are both units of weight in the metric system. Converting from grams to kilograms is very simple. To start, keep in mind that there are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram. This means that a 1 gram is equal to 1/1000 of a kilogram. In other words, all you have to do is divide the number of grams by 1,000 to get kilograms. When you’re doing the conversion, write the number of grams first. For instance, let’s say you’re converting 5,000 grams into kilograms. Write 5,000, followed by “g” or “grams” to indicate the unit of measurement. Next, divide 5,000 by 1,000, to get the number 5. Write “kg” or “kilograms” after your answer. And that’s it! But what if you’re working with a small number of grams, like 26? In this case, you’ll end up with a fraction of a kilogram when you make your conversion. While you could just write out 26/1000 kg, your answer will look less awkward if you write it as a decimal. To do this, first put a decimal point after the number of grams. Then, move the point over 3 spaces to the left. Fill in any empty spaces after the decimal point and in front of your original number with a zero. For instance, 26 g becomes .026 kg. If you want to convert back to grams, that’s easy, too. Simply multiply the number of kilograms by 1,000. If you want to learn how to convert grams to kilograms by shifting the decimal point, keep reading the article!

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