For people who use the imperial system, judging just how much a given number of kilograms weighs or what that weight feels like can be challenging.
Twenty kilograms is equal to about 44 pounds, but even with this information, estimating 20 kilograms is still difficult. Comparing 20 kilograms to some common objects, however, can be helpful.
1. Two Car Tires
Most people can picture a car tire, even if they’ve never had to actually handle one. Most average car tires weigh about 12 kilograms when they’re new.
As a tire is used, the rubber wears away slightly, so most car tires might weigh closer to 10 kilograms or even less. Two car tires would, therefore, weigh close to 20 kilograms.
Tires for SUVs and trucks weigh even more, and many lighter or smaller SUV and truck tires weigh right around 45 pounds or about 20 kilograms.
All-terrain or winter tires often weigh a bit more than other tire types.
2. An Office Chair
Although they swivel and are easy to move from place to place, office chairs can be surprisingly heavy. These chairs usually have metal frames, and many are well-padded.
They may also have hydraulics or controls that let you raise and lower or tilt the chair. Because of all these features, office chairs often weigh right around 20 kilograms.
Chairs that weigh this much can also usually support more weight.
3. A Siberian Husky or Two Beagles
Siberian Huskies are an easily recognizable dog breed thanks to their thick coats, beautiful eyes, and intelligent faces.
These dogs were bred to withstand cold weather, and they’re often used to pull sleds through the snow.
How much a Siberian husky weighs depends on their genetics and gender, but most female huskies weigh between 35 and 50 pounds, while most male huskies weigh between 45 and 60 pounds.
This means that an average Siberian husky weighs right around 20 kilograms.
Beagles are another common dog that can help you estimate 20 kilograms. Standard beagles weigh between 20 and 30 pounds or about 10 kilograms, so two beagles weigh about 20 kilograms.
4. Two Road Bicycles
Road bikes are lightweight bikes that are crafted for either racing or commuting. These bikes aren’t as rugged or durable as mountain bikes, and they’re not meant to handle any challenging or rough terrain, but they work well on pavement and can attain high racing speeds.
Each road bike weighs a different amount depending on its make and model and what it’s designed for, but most bikes weigh about 18 pounds or a little more than 8 kilograms.
This means that two road bikes weigh just less than 20 kilograms. These bikes will weigh even closer to 20 kilograms if they have any additional gear, such as water bottles or packs, stowed on them.
5. 20 Liters or 5 Gallons of Water
A liter of liquid doesn’t always equal the equivalent number of kilograms, but water usually does. In general, 1 liter of water weighs 1 kilogram, so 20 liters of water weigh 20 kilograms.
This can fluctuate slightly depending on what temperature the water is. Cold water, for example, contracts, so you can actually fit more water into a liter container if that water is cold. In this case, 1 liter of cold water can weigh slightly more than a kilogram.
One liter is equal to about 0.26 gallons, so 20 liters is just slightly more than 5 gallons.
6. Four Bowling Balls
Bowling balls can weigh between 6 and 16 pounds, which means that an average bowling ball weighs about 11 pounds.
In this case, you would need four bowling balls to equal a weight of close to 20 kilograms. When selecting a bowling ball, choose a ball that weighs about 10% of your total body weight, if you can.
This will help to make bowling easier and can even improve your aim.
7. Four Bags of Flour
Flour can be purchased in a variety of quantities. One of the most common quantities for purchasing flour is a 5-kilogram bag. A bag of this size ensures that bakers have plenty of flour to work with.
To add up to 20 kilograms, you would need four bags of this size.
Other dry goods are also often sold in similar quantities. Sugar, for example, is frequently sold in 5-kilogram bags.
Rice can also be purchased in a 5-kilogram bag, but many people who frequently use rice in their cooking prefer even larger bags. A 10- or even 20-kilogram bag of rice isn’t too uncommon.
8. Two Bags of Dog or Cat Food
Dry cat or dog food is also commonly sold in large bags. These big bags of food are handy if you have multiple pets or a big dog that eats a large amount of food.
Ten kilograms or 20 pounds are two of the most common sizes for dried pet food. You would need to carry two of these bags, therefore, to experience the weight of 20 kilograms.
9. Two Watermelons
There are several watermelon varieties, and many people prefer to buy personal or mini watermelons. Large watermelons, however, can feed more people, and they can weigh much more.
An average watermelon weighs about 20 pounds, so you would need two to reach a weight of just under 20 kilograms.
