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Tuesday, December 02, 2025

Weight Calculation Tool based on Latitude

Your Weight Changes with Latitude

Your weight changes as you move further or closer to the Equator on Earth. This is true even if you typically measure your weight in kilograms.

Your mass is the amount of matter in your body. This remains constant.  However, your weight (the force of gravity acting on your mass) changes because the Earth's "falling" acceleration due to gravity (g) is not uniform. This variation is primarily due to two factors:

  1. The Earth's Spin (Centrifugal Force): As the Earth rotates, it creates an outward centrifugal force that partially counteracts gravity. This force is strongest at the Equator and drops to zero at the Poles, making you slightly lighter near the Equator.
  2. The Earth's Shape (Equatorial Bulge): The Earth is not a perfect sphere. It bulges around the Equator. This means you are physically farther from the planet's center when standing at 90° latitude than at the Poles. This distance also weakens the gravitational pull.

The combination of these two effects means you will exert the greatest gravitational force (be the heaviest) at the poles and the least at the Equator.

You can use Google Maps to find your current latitude and the latitude of your target or destination.


How to Use the Calculator

Use the calculator below to find your true constant mass and see how your weight (the force) would change if you moved to a new location:

  1. Your Scale Reading: Enter your weight and select your unit (lbs or kg). If you use kg, the tool will automatically adjust for the standard gravity value that your scale likely uses to calculate your true mass.
  2. Current Latitude: Enter the latitude where you took the measurement.
  3. Target Latitude: Enter the latitude of interest (90° for the Pole or 0° for the Equator).

The tool will then show you your True Constant Mass (in kg and slugs), your Current Weight (in lbs and Newtons) and your calculated Target Weight at the new latitude. One additional note is that I previous covered this topic with an Excel spreadsheet tool. This new tool (below) is more accurate than my original spreadsheet because this new tool takes Earth's shape into account.

Weight & Mass Calculator 🌍

Input your weight in either pounds (lbs) or kilograms (kg).

Enter your details and click 'Calculate'.


For information on other tools and topics:

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