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

Co-authored by David Jia and Sophia Bell

Last Updated: August 8, 2024 References

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Grams to Kilograms

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Kilograms to Grams

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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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Formula

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
Divide the number of grams by 1,000. 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]
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Expert Source

David Jia
Academic Tutor

Expert Interview. 14 January 2021.} 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]
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Research source}
- Example 1: 20,000 grams ÷ 1,000 = 20 kilograms
  - ${\frac {20,000g}{1}}/{\frac {1kg}{1,000g}}$
  - ${\frac {20,000}{1}}/{\frac {1kg}{1,000}}$
  - $20,000/1,000=20kg$
- Example 2: 9,135 grams ÷ 1,000 = 9.135 kilograms
  - ${\frac {9,135g}{1}}/{\frac {1kg}{1,000g}}$
  - ${\frac {9,135}{1}}/{\frac {1kg}{1,000}}$
  - $9,135/1,000=9.135kg$
2
Shift the decimal point 3 places to the left as an alternative. 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]
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- Example 1: 37 grams = 37. → 3.7 → .37 → .037 kilograms
- Example 2: 4,000 grams = 4,000. → 400.0 → 40.00 → 4.000 kilograms

Section 2 of 3:

Kilograms to Grams

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1
Multiply the number of kilograms by 1,000. 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]
X
Expert Source

David Jia
Academic Tutor

Expert Interview. 14 January 2021.} 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]
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Research source} Don’t forget to label your answer with the correct units.
- Example 1: 5 kilograms x 1,000 = 5,000 grams
  - ${\frac {5kg}{1}}x{\frac {1,000g}{1kg}}$
  - ${\frac {5}{1}}x{\frac {1,000g}{1}}$
  - $5x1,000=5,000g$
- Example 2: 16.505 kilograms x 1,000 = 16,505 grams
  - ${\frac {16.505kg}{1}}x{\frac {1,000g}{1kg}}$
  - ${\frac {16.505}{1}}x{\frac {1,000g}{1}}$
  - $16.505x1,000=16,505g$
2
Shift the decimal point 3 places to the right as an alternative. 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]
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- Example 1: 50 kilograms = 50. → 500. → 5000. → 50000.0 grams
- Example 2: 1.957 kilograms = 1.957 → 19.57 → 195.7 → 1957.0 grams

Section 3 of 3:

FAQs

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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]
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Research source} One gram is also approximately equivalent to the mass of one cubic centimeter of water.^{[8]
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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]
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How are grams and kilograms related? 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]
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- 1 kilogram (kg) is equal to 1,000 grams (g) and 1 gram (g) is equal to 0.001 kilograms (kg).

Calculator, Practice Problems, and Answers

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Sample Converting Grams to Kilograms Practice Problems

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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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How can l convert 10g to kg?

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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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Is it g-kg divide by 1000? Or kg-g divided by 1000?

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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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Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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