When people say someone is an X tonner...

...are they talking imperial ton or metric ton? Because that's 1,000 lbs of difference.

Good question. I've always assumed metric since its more universal.

@bruxae: Agreed. But usually when someone describes a ton to me they say it's 2,000 lbs (imperial) not 1,000 (metric). That's why I'm curious.

I am pretty sure it's metric

I always assumed imperial.

The whole trope of describing someone's strength in number of tons comes from old Marvel handbook entries which used the imperial system.

I always assumed it was the 2000-pound variety. Also, a metric ton is approximately equal to 2200 pounds, or 1000 kilograms.

This is a good question.

I've always assumed we use metric tons tbh.

Me- 2000 pounds.

@johnnyz256: That makes more sense seeing as how a metric ton would presumably use metric measurements. I guess there's still a difference though.