Ton is any of several units of measure of mass, volume or force. It has a long history and has acquired several meanings and uses. As a unit of mass, ton can mean: the long ton, which is 2,240 pounds (1,016.0 kilograms) the short ton, which is 2,000 pounds (907.2 kilograms) the tonne, also called the metric ton, which is 1,000 kilograms (about ...