Choose the product unit before approving the weight range
A kilogram range and a pound range are different product specifications. Choose the primary unit, the nominal weight of each item and the increments between sizes before approving artwork or a purchase order. A second unit on a badge is a converted reference; it does not turn an existing pound product into a separately specified kilogram product.
For distributors, importers and gym buyers, the practical question is whether the new equipment must continue an existing range or introduce a clearly separate one. Record that decision in the SKU, quotation and receiving instructions. The unmarked product images in this guide illustrate assortments and packing concepts; they do not show measured samples or completed customer orders.
Keep nominal weight, converted weight and measured weight separate
Nominal weight is the size the product is ordered and marked to represent. Converted weight expresses that same nominal value in another unit. Measured weight is the result obtained when an actual item is weighed. These three fields serve different purposes and should not overwrite one another in a spreadsheet.
Use 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg for the avoirdupois pound. Convert pounds to kilograms by multiplication and kilograms to pounds by division. Keep the full calculation internally and round only the displayed reference. The numerical examples below are calculations, not measured product results or promised manufacturing tolerances.
Why a 45 lb plate is not a 20 kg plate
Compare the nominal masses
A nominal 45 lb plate converts to 20.41165665 kg, displayed here as approximately 20.412 kg. A nominal 20 kg plate converts to approximately 44.092 lb. The products may occupy similar positions in two ranges, but those labels are not equivalent. Do not approve “20 kg / 45 lb” as an exact dual-unit statement.
The increment also matters: a 5 lb step is approximately 2.268 kg, whereas a 2.5 kg step is 2.5 kg. A reordered range can look consistent while offering a different progression. Compare every size, including the smallest increments, before consolidating catalogues.
Calculated unit comparisons for an order review
| Nominal designation | Converted reference | Buying implication |
|---|---|---|
| 45 lb | ≈ 20.412 kg | A different nominal size from 20 kg |
| 20 kg | ≈ 44.092 lb | Do not label as exactly 45 lb |
| 5 lb increment | ≈ 2.268 kg | Different spacing from 2.5 kg |
| One pair of 20 kg dumbbells | Two items, each 20 kg nominal | Separate piece count and packed mass |
Build the purchase specification around one primary unit
Make the SKU unambiguous
Give kilogram and pound variants separate item references, even when their finish and handle design match. Each order line needs the primary nominal value, unit, product model and quantity basis. Put any rounded secondary display in a different field. A number such as “20” without its unit cannot identify the correct product.
Ask the manufacturer whether the requested series already exists and what changes a different nominal mass would require. A new badge alone cannot answer that question. As a free-weight factory, we use the requested range and reference details to discuss a suitable OEM or ODM specification; availability, tooling and commercial terms must be confirmed for the actual model.
Approve dual-unit artwork as a calculation and a legibility decision
State how the reference number is rounded
Select a primary unit that remains easy to see with the custom logo. If a second unit is shown, calculate it from the same nominal value and document the display precision and rounding convention. Do not use a nearby familiar size simply because it makes the label shorter. Local decimal separators also need review when artwork serves more than one market.
Review product faces, end badges, carton labels and online listings together. “LB” or “lb” must not disappear when a distributor crops a photograph. A private label can change the appearance of an item, but the weight designation must continue to describe the approved specification. Destination-specific labeling requirements should be checked for the intended market.
Information to send with a unit-specific inquiry
- Destination market and the unit used by the existing range.
- Product model, primary nominal weight and unit for every SKU.
- Requested sizes and increments, with pieces or pairs explicitly stated.
- Custom logo artwork and the exact secondary-unit rounding rule, if used.
- Separate requirements for weighing, nominal tolerances and receiving records.
- Carton identification, mixed-series separation and reorder references.
Separate single-item weight from pairs and shipping totals
A dumbbell marked 20 kg normally identifies an individual dumbbell in a specified range; the order must still say whether the quoted quantity means individual pieces or pairs. In an illustrative line, one pair of nominal 20 kg dumbbells means two items, each nominally 20 kg. Their combined nominal product mass is 40 kg; it is not the packed shipping weight.
For plates, record the number of individual plates and any pairing requirement. On the packing list, keep product designation, piece count, net mass and gross mass in separate columns. Do not obtain a declared shipment mass merely by adding nominal labels: use the packing and weighing information required for that shipment.
Keep a market variant from becoming an accidental substitute
For a distributor serving customers with different weight conventions, maintain separate catalogue variants even when one purchasing team places the order. Link each sales description to the approved factory item code. If a customer changes from lb to kg during quotation, revise the size schedule as well as the label file. Record acceptance of the new progression before updating the stock record.
Receive and reorder by model and unit, not by appearance
Check the order reference against the product marking, carton and delivered assortment. If weighing is part of acceptance, record the instrument unit and compare the result with the agreed nominal specification and separate tolerance criteria. Converting a reading does not erase a mismatch between the product ordered and the product supplied.
For replenishment, send the original item code, primary unit, size list and approved artwork revision. Similar-looking handles or plates can belong to different series. Keep kg and lb stock distinct in warehouse locations and catalogue variants. If a buyer intentionally mixes series, show the units clearly and calculate loads consistently; matching a unit alone does not establish bar, bore or rack compatibility.
Sources and the boundary of the comparison
The conversion factor follows NIST mass calibration guidance. IVANKO’s product FAQ distinguishes true kilogram products from relabeled pound products for specified product lines. This is an example of a supplier-specific construction choice, not proof that every manufacturer uses the same tooling.
Eleiko’s plate catalogue also distinguishes kilogram and pound series. These references support checking the actual model. They do not establish our factory’s stock, tolerances, pricing or customization options. Confirm those details against the product and order being considered.
Related products and purchasing guides
- Rubber hex dumbbells
- Dumbbell product range
- Weight-plate tolerance guide
- Free-weight sample approval
- Our factory
- Discuss your specification
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 20 kg and 45 lb plates the same weight?
No. Nominal 45 lb is approximately 20.412 kg; nominal 20 kg is approximately 44.092 lb. They can fill similar catalogue positions but are not equal nominal masses.
Can a factory change lb dumbbells into kg by changing the badge?
A badge can change a display, not the underlying mass. Confirm whether the requested kilogram series is a separate product specification and whether any production change is needed.
Can a dumbbell show both kg and lb?
Yes, if both markings describe the same nominal mass with an agreed conversion and rounding convention. Review legibility and applicable destination requirements before approving artwork.
Does the marked weight mean one dumbbell or a pair?
Confirm the product convention and put the basis in the order. Specify each item's nominal weight and state the quantity in pieces or pairs separately.
Can kg and lb equipment be used in the same gym?
It can be intentionally managed as separate, clearly identified ranges. Convert values consistently and check the physical compatibility of bars and plates independently.
What should a private-label reorder include?
Include the original model and SKU, primary unit, nominal sizes, piece or pair quantities and approved marking revision. Ask for written confirmation before accepting a substitute series.
Specify your kilogram or pound range
Send the model, primary unit, nominal sizes, quantities and marking requirements to our factory. We can discuss OEM, ODM, custom logo and private-label bulk supply against a clearly defined product range. Send your weight-range specification.
