Grams to Kilograms (g to kg)

Divide the number of grams by 1,000. On paper, that means moving the decimal point three places to the left: 1,250 g becomes 1.25 kg, and 380 g becomes 0.38 kg. The same shift works for any amount, from a spoonful of spice to a sack of rice.

Short numbers need zeros in front before the point can move. Write 75 as 0075, then shift the point to get 0.075 kg. For any result under one kilogram, keep the zero before the decimal point, as NIST asks in its guide to writing SI units.

50 g is 0.05 kg. Writing 0.5 kg instead is an easy slip, and it makes the amount ten times too large.

To catch it, convert back. Multiply your kilogram answer by 1,000 and see whether you get the grams you started with: 50 g checks out, while 500 g does not.

A quick size check helps too. Anything under 1,000 g must come out below one kilogram, and anything under 100 g must start with 0.0 once it is in kilograms.

If a packing list gives each item in grams, add the grams first and convert once at the end. A tent of 1,850 g, a sleeping bag of 920 g, a stove of 310 g and a bottle of 150 g add up to 3,230 g.

Divided by 1,000, that load is 3.23 kg. Converting each item first and rounding it along the way would stack up small errors. The same total in pounds is 7.121 lb, which the grams to pounds converter shows for any amount.