What Is a Hundredweight (CWT)?
A hundredweight (CWT) is a unit of measurement used to define the quantities of certain commodities being bought and sold. It is used in some commodities trading contracts. Pricing by hundredweight also is a standard option for shipping packages that take up less than an entire truckload. Usage of hundredweight more generally has declined in favor of contract specifications in pounds or kilograms.
The value of a hundredweight differs in its American and British usages. In the United States, a hundredweight is a unit of mass equal to 100 pounds. In the United Kingdom, a hundredweight is a unit of mass equal to 112 pounds. The two values are sometimes distinguished by referring to the American hundredweight as a "short hundredweight" and the British hundredweight as a "long hundredweight." The short hundredweight is also sometimes called a "cental."
Key Takeaways
- A hundredweight (abbreviated as CWT) is a standard unit of weight or mass used in certain commodities markets. It also may be used to price smaller shipments of goods.
- In North America, a hundredweight is equal to 100 pounds; in the United Kingdom, a hundredweight is 112 pounds. These may be referred to as a "short" or a "long" hundredweight.
- The hundredweight was originally introduced as a standard unit of measurement to simplify the trading of certain goods between countries.
- The use of the hundredweight as a measurement has declined in recent years in favor of the metric system.
- Steel, cattle, oil, seeds, and grains are examples of products measured using the hundredweight.
Understanding Hundredweight (CWT)
The abbreviation "CWT" refers to centum or cental weight, meaning hundredweight. The hundredweight has been used as a measurement of mass in Europe since the late Medieval era. Traders bought and sold goods like wax, sugar, and pepper in hundredweights, although the precise amount that was meant at the time could be 100 pounds or 108 pounds. Since 1340, when King Edward III changed the official definition of one stone to 14 pounds, one hundredweight has equaled eight stones or 112 pounds.
This was set in law in 1835 when the Weights and Measures Act established one hundredweight as 112pounds, In the U.S. and Canada, one hundredweight, then and now, is 100 pounds.
100 lbs (45.4 kg) / 112 lbs. (50.8 kg)
In the United States and Canada, 1 hundredweight count (CWT) is equal to 100 lbs., or 45.4 kilograms.
In the Great Britain, 1 hundredweight count (CWT) is equal to 112 lbs., or 50.8 kilograms.
When a Hundredweight Is Not 100 Pounds
In 1824, it became illegal for British merchants to use the term hundredweight to refer to a unit of 100 pounds, and merchants could be sued for fraudulent activity for doing so. In 1879, it became legal again to use of measurement of 100 pounds in Britain, but only when it was labeled a "cental."
The term hundredweight is derived from the French avoirdupois weight system which was established in England in the late Medieval period. It provided a standard for measurement, simplifying the trading of certain goods among countries.
This was especially helpful when dealing with commodities that were traded in large quantities. It was accepted that 20 hundredweights were one ton. A short ton weighed 2,000 pounds and a long ton weighed 2,240 pounds.
The abbreviation "CWT" stands for centum or cental weight, meaning one hundredweight.
Examples of Hundredweight (CWT)
The hundredweight is most often used as a unit of measure for trading large quantities of commodities. It also is used when referring to products that are exceptionally heavy, such as steel.
Many food items such as cattle, oil, seeds, and grains are measured using the hundredweight, along with products sold in bulk including paper and some chemicals or additives.
Cattle by Hundredweight
In the futures markets, prices for cattle and other livestock are quoted in hundredweights, while prices for foods like coffee and sugar are priced by cents per pound.
Prices of futures including livestock and rice may be measured and traded in hundredweights.
Anvils were commonly measured in hundredweights, using a decimal designation to state the number of hundredweights, quarter-hundredweights, and pounds the anvil weighed. The formula can still be used to indicate anvil weight.
Special Considerations
With the increased use of the metric system across Europe, the hundredweight generally fell out of favor. As the metric system created a more universally accepted standard, dealing in hundredweights became less common. The potential for confusion between the British and North American definitions helped make it unpopular for international trade.
Even though it is not as commonly used as it once was, it is still an accepted unit of measurement. The hundredweight is used within certain U.S. sectors, especially those relating to agriculture, even though most trade is conducted in pounds or kilograms.
CWT Shipping vs. LTL Shipping
Shipping companies that handle smaller loads of goods can often choose between two pricing options for transporting their packages: hundredweight (CWT) or less-than-truckload (LTL) pricing. Generally, a shipping company that specializes in carrying small loads from many clients relies on hundredweight pricing.
UPS and FedEx, for example, both offer hundredweight options for shipping packages.
Advantages and Disadvantages
According to Clearview Audit, a firm that specializes in supply chain management services, both options have advantages and disadvantages:
- LTL shipping requires that packages be loaded onto a pallet and may include very heavy, large, or oddly shaped goods. This option is often used when all of the goods being shipped are going to the same destination, such as a warehouse.
- Hundredweight shipping requires less handling, as multiple packages can be sent without loading them onto pallets. It is often used by small shippers sending packages to a number of destinations.
The better shipping choice depends on many factors, including the size, shape, and weight of the products being shipped and the distance being covered.
Shipping by hundredweight is the preferred option for many businesses that frequently ship small packages that add up to less than a full truckload.
How Do You Calculate CWT in Cattle?
In the U.S., cattle and all other commodities are weighed in pounds. A hundredweight equals 100 pounds in North America. So, the total weight of the cattle divided by 100 equals the number of hundredweight of cattle.
How Are Freight Prices Calculated With CWT?
The shipping charge will be quoted as a price per cwt. For example, the quoted price might be $30 per cwt. A 500-pound shipment is five hundredweight. The total price is 30 x 5, or $150.
How Many Kilograms Are There in a Hundredweight (CWT)?
One pound equals 0.453592 kilograms. A hundredweight in the U.S. measurement of 100 pounds would equal 45.3592 kilograms. A hundredweight in the British measurement of 112 pounds is 50.8023 kilograms.
How Do You Calculate Hundredweight (CWT)?
In North America, you simply divide the weight in pounds by one hundred. So something that is one ton (2,000 lbs) would be 20 CWT.
The Bottom Line
The hundredweight survives as a standard unit of measurement in the 21st century but only in a number of specific uses. It is used to indicate the quantity of some commodities being bought and sold in the marketplace, and of some commodity futures being traded in the financial markets. It also is used to indicate the quantity of goods being shipped by freight.
One problem with using the hundredweight for global trade is that it has two standard definitions: It's 100 pounds in the U.S. and Canada and 112 pounds in the U.K.
FAQs
How do you calculate CWT 100 weight? ›
Calculating CWT
Determine the total weight in pounds of a commodity before calculating it in pounds. According to Cavalier, the quantity in hundredweight is expressed by dividing this number by 100. Let's say you have 2,240 pounds of rice on hand. Divide 2,240 by 100, and you get 22.4 CWT.
Hundredweight (CWT) is a unit of weight measurement that defines the quantity of products being freighted in a shipment. The term hundredweight (CWT) can be found in commodities trading contracts. While shipping, items are also priced by hundredweight (CWT), which takes less than the entire truckload.
How do you calculate price per CWT? ›To calculate the hundredth weight of steel pricing, you take the gross weight (40,000 lbs) multiplied by the pricing ($57.75) then divide by 100.
What measurement is CWT? ›The hundredweight (abbreviation: cwt), formerly also known as the centum weight or quintal, is a British imperial and US customary unit of weight or mass.
How much is CWT per dollar? ›The current value of 1 CWT is $0.01 USD.
How do you convert CWT to price per pound? ›The math for this is the multiply $/cwt by 20. If the goal is to get to dollars per pound ($/pound), just divide $/cwt by 100. If you need to figure cost by going from dollars per ton to hundredweight, simply divide $/ton by 20.
What does per CWT mean? ›CWT stands for hundredweight. LTL shipments are priced “per 100 pounds,” “cwt,” or “per hundredweight.” This means that a 400 lb shipment priced at $25 CWT would cost $100, not including accessories or specialty services. Typically, as the weight of your shipment increases the CWT rate decreases.
What does price per CWT mean? ›Class prices are announced as dollars per hundredweight. CWT= hundredweight, 100 pounds.
How many pounds is 7 hundredweight? ›| Long Hundredweights (UK) | Pounds |
|---|---|
| 6 cwt long | 672.00 lb |
| 7 cwt long | 784.00 lb |
| 8 cwt long | 896.00 lb |
| 9 cwt long | 1008.00 lb |
BCD Travel. The last CWT alternative we'd like to mention is BCD Travel. The company operates in more than 100 countries and offers streamlined reporting, expense management, and even CO2 emissions tracking. It has an online booking system with multiple tools and platforms.
Why are there 112 pounds in a hundredweight? ›
In 1340, King Edward III changed the value of the stone from 12½ pounds to 14 pounds (see sack for the reason why). Since a hundredweight is 8 stones, the 100-pound hundredweight became 112 pounds.
How do you calculate total price per pound? ›Price per pound is calculated by dividing the cost of an item by its weight in pounds. For example, if a bag of apples costs $4 and weighs 2 pounds, the price per pound of apples would be $2.
Why do we use CWT? ›CWT offers a high-resolution representation of the time–frequency domain by using near-continuous discretization. Its continuous time and frequency scales better support intricate time–frequency analysis. Consequently, CWT is often described as the mathematical microscope of data analysis10 (Fig.
What is CWT in meat? ›Hundred weight (cwt)
One hundred pounds of live weight or live weight equivalent cattle and is commonly abbreviated to 'cwt'
To convert cwt (hundredweight) to gallons, divide the cwt price by 11.6, the number of gallons in a cwt. A per.
What does CWT mean in beef prices? ›CWT – Abbreviation for hundredweight and the unit in which most prices are quoted ($/cwt). C for Centum—a hundred—and Wt for weight. Feeder cattle – Steers or heifers mature enough to enter a feedlot.
How many bushels is a CWT? ›Bushel (wheat) = 60 lbs. 1 bushel = 0.6 Cwt. 1 short ton = 20 Cwt.
How do you use CWT in a sentence? ›cwt | Business English
written abbreviation for hundredweight : We have feed costs for the total herd of less than $6.50 per cwt of milk produced.
Multiply the weight in hundredweights by 100 to convert to an equivalent in pounds. For an example, 5 cwt. multiplied by 100 converts to 500 lb.
Is 1000 lb in weight a ton? ›The most basic answer to the question of how many pounds in a ton? There are 2000 pounds in a ton.
What does CWT mean in scrap metal? ›
Steel is typically priced by hundredweight (CWT), which is the price per 100 pounds of material. In some situations – such as materials market reports – carbon steel price may be reflected per-pound. For example, a CWT price of $40* is equal to $0.40 per pound.
How many weights are in a pound? ›Everything you need to know about measuring grams, from terms and origin to how many grams are in a pound! There are 453.592 grams in a pound. This is the same regardless of what you're measuring, because both pounds and grams are methods of measuring weight.
What are the disadvantages of CWT? ›- The CWT adds excess redundancy and is computationally intensive, so you usually use this transform in offline analysis applications.
- The CWT does not provide the phase information of the analyzed signal.
Corporate travel agency CWT exited bankruptcy on Friday, at the same time pledging to heavily invest in technology — a highly strategic move from its CEO and new paymasters as its rivals start to consolidate.
Who is buying CWT? ›HNA Holding Group has offered to buy Singaporean logistics firm CWT Group for S$1.4 billion (US$1 billion), reflecting its latest asset purchase after having spent more than US$30 billion on acquisitions around the world since last year.
Why is 2000 lbs called a ton? ›The ton is derived from the tun, the term applied to a cask of the largest capacity. This could contain a volume between 175 and 213 imperial gallons (210 and 256 US gal; 800 and 970 L), which could weigh around 2,000 pounds (910 kg) and occupy some 60 cubic feet (1.7 m3) of space.
Is 2000 lb more than 1 ton? ›REMEMBER: 2,000 POUNDS EQUALS 1 TON. WHATEVER YOU HAVE REPORTED IN POUNDS SIMPLY DIVIDE BY 2,000 TO GET YOUR TONS.
Is 2 tons bigger than 2000 lbs? ›1 ton equals 2,000 pounds because 1x2,000=2,000. 2 tons equals 4,000 pounds because 2x2,000=4,000.
What is the formula for calculating the price amount? ›Determine the total cost of all units purchased. Divide the total cost by the number of units purchased to get the cost price. Use the selling price formula to calculate the final price: Selling Price = Cost Price + Profit Margin.
What is the formula for calculating price? ›- Identify the total cost of all units being bought.
- Divide the total cost by the number of units bought to obtain the cost price.
- Use the selling price formula to find out the final price i.e.: SP = CP + Profit Margin.
What is the formula for price? ›
Here are the three most important basic retail price formulas: Retail Price = Cost of Goods + Markup. Markup = Retail Price – Cost of Goods. Cost of Goods = Retail Price – Markup.
Is CWT the same as hundredweight? ›A hundredweight (abbreviated as CWT) is a standard unit of weight or mass used in certain commodities markets. It also may be used to price smaller shipments of goods. In North America, a hundredweight is equal to 100 pounds; in the United Kingdom, a hundredweight is 112 pounds.
What are the benefits of working for CWT? ›CWT Benefits include Work From Home Policy, Life Insurance, and 401K / Retirement Plan, along with 5 other unique benefits in categories such as Paid Time Off and Health & Wellness. Employees score their Perks And Benefits an average of 48/100.
What are the properties of CWT? ›Properties of CWT
It is not computationally efficient since it uses a huge amount of coefficients. These coefficients occupy a lot of RAM, thus hindering the execution speed. It is shift-invariant. You can shift the signal around before calculating the transform, and the resulting energy will still be the same.
For this example, 10 people intend to eat meat. Next, multiply the number of people 8 ounces to get the total ounces of meat. 10 * 8 = 80 ounces. Finally, divide by 16 to get the amount of meat in pounds.
How do you calculate meat content? ›meat content =89.5% added phosphate, calculated as pentasodium triphosphate = (0.60-0.0243 x 18.0) % x 1.73 = 0.28. % “added water” =100%-“meat content – (contents of added phosphate, salt and carbohydrates) =100% – 89.5% – 0.28% – 3.0% – 1.0% = 6.2%.
Is meat measured in pounds? ›Meat is a product that is typically sold by the pound. One pound of ground beef makes about four hamburger patties. Ounces are used to measure lighter objects. A stack of 11 pennies is equal to about one ounce.
How much money does a farmer make per gallon of milk? ›The milk industry in crisis
On average, farmers spend $1.92 to produce a gallon of milk and make $1.32 when they sell it to processors. This is the fourth year in a row that farmers' milk prices have dipped below the cost of production.
A gallon of milk weighs 8.6 lb, and a quart of milk weighs 2.15 lb.
Is gallon of milk heavier than water? ›A gallon of milk often weighs more than water. A gallon of water weighs 8.35 pounds vs the 8.6 pounds that milk weighs. A gallon of milk contains just 87% water and the rest is made up of fats, protein, carbohydrate (lactose), and minerals, plus micronutrients and vitamins.
Why is a hundredweight 112 pounds? ›
Originally a stone was 12.5 pounds and so 'a hundredweight' was a sensible name for 8 stones of something. Then in the 1300's the king changed the definition of a stone to be 14 pounds and a hundredweight therefore became 112 pounds.
What is CWT in cattle prices? ›CWT – Abbreviation for hundredweight and the unit in which most prices are quoted ($/cwt). C for Centum—a hundred—and Wt for weight.
What does 25 CWT mean? ›CWT stands for hundredweight. LTL shipments are priced “per 100 pounds,” “cwt,” or “per hundredweight.” This means that a 400 lb shipment priced at $25 CWT would cost $100, not including accessories or specialty services. Typically, as the weight of your shipment increases the CWT rate decreases.
What is the weight of CWT? ›A hundredweight is a pricing unit used in transportation, usually equal to 100 pounds. It can also be abbreviated as “CWT” and pronounced “hundred-weight”. The term is mostly used in the United States, but it may also be encountered in other English-speaking countries.
What does CWT mean on a title? ›CWT (Hundred weight): (Not required for motorcycles) Using the empty weight, round up to the nearest hundred pounds and drop the last two zeroes. Example: Empty weight 4,726 pounds = 48 CWT. Title Complete Notices generated when the application for title has been processed indicates the CWT.
What is another word for 100 pounds? ›hundredweight in American English
a unit of avoirdupois weight commonly equivalent to 100 pounds (45.359 kilograms) in the U.S.
A weight of 100 lbs. is healthy only for relatively short adults. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, adults who are 4 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 1 inch in total height are within a healthy weight range at 100 lbs. Seek to maintain this weight only if it is appropriate for your stature.
What is 20 CWT mean? ›A hundredweight (CWT) measures the weight of certain materials, such as steel. A hundredweight corresponds to 100 pounds (in North America). As such, there are 20 hundredweights in a ton.
How much does it cost to feed 100 cattle? ›The estimated cost per head per day was $1.83 per beef cow, or $183 to feed 100 beef cows each day. Over the 120-day winter feeding period, feed costs totaled $220 per beef cow and $21,972 for the entire 100-head cowherd.
How many pounds is a load of cattle? ›Ideally, when selling large amounts of cattle, a common rule of thumb is to sell as close to a “load lot” as possible. Load lots refer to “truckload lots” of cattle that equate to 48,000-50,000 lbs.