How Many Ounces in a Pound? [Know the Exact Answer]

Weed lovers amongst you know that the precious herb is measured by weight. As such, it is imperative that you understand the different units of measurement which mean converting grams, ounces and pounds. If your cannabis consumption level is best described as ‘significant’, a failure to determine how many ounces are in a pound could cost you a decent sum of money in the long-term.

Whether you are smoking your weed or using edibles, learning some simple math will help ensure you get your money’s worth. Furthermore, the good news is the conversion process gets easier as you increase the amount – knowing what a pound of weed is at an oz per lb rate, for example, should be routine knowledge for any self-respecting “cannasieur.”

Keep reading to learn more about how to convert ounces to pounds, gram to pound, etc. or skip the process by using our online converter.

1 Pound = 16 Ounces… Plus Change

There are two main measurement systems; the imperial and metric systems and in the United States, we tend to favor the former. In the metric system, the gram is the base unit. In the imperial system, ounces and pounds are used. When buying cannabis, you tend to concern yourself with grams and ounces, but not pounds. Why?

Because even one pound of marijuana is an enormous amount! (Which makes knowing how many oz in a lb relatively trivial information).

There are of course 16 ounces in a pound, but a lot of people seem to get the precise measurements completely incorrect. You will often hear someone say that there are 28 grams in an ounce, for example. Since there are 16 ounces in a pound, there must be 448 grams in a pound (28 x 16), right?

WRONG!… Or maybe not.

Following is a list of the official imperial measurement system, and its most popular conversions (memorizing the lists will make jumping around from ounce to pound that much easier if – or when – you need to do it in real life).

How Many Grams in a Pound? The Simple Conversion…

All things considered, most daily marijuana users will know (and have memorized) the following conversions from grams to lb, etc. And if you end up being in the “weed game” for any amount of time, these numbers will become as routine as knowing your social security number or cell phone number:

• 1 gram = 0.00220461 pounds
• 1 pound = 453.592 grams
• 1 ounce = 28.3495 grams

In the world of weed however, the answer is not quite as straightforward as most dealers (and even some dispensaries) will round off to the nearest tenth. The ‘unofficial’ weed measuring system will look something like this:

• An Eighth: 3.5 grams
• A Fifth: 5.6 grams
• A Quarter: 7 grams
• A Half: 14 grams
• An Ounce: 28 grams
• A Pound: 448 grams

Ounces in a Pound are Usually Rounded Down…

Marijuana culture dictates that we round everything down for the sake of simplification. Therefore, while a pound is technically just over 453 grams, a pound of weed is 448 grams. For the record, an eighth of weed should last you anywhere from 2-3 weeks. Since there are 16 ounces in a pound of weed, you would have 128 x eighths, which is an immense amount of herb!

If you landed yourself a pound of Mary Jane, you would have enough to last you for around five years! Sadly, though, your weed would go stale a long time before you finish it; unless you invite Snoop Dogg and another dozen experienced smokers around to your house for a lengthy session.

Research suggests that the average joint has 0.5 grams of weed. Therefore, here is the number of joints you could expect, per measurement:

• An Eighth : 7 Joints.
• A Quarter : 14 Joints.
• A Half : 28 Joints.
• An Ounce : 56 Joints.
• A Pound: 896 Joints!

How to Accurately Weigh Large Quantities of Weed – Including Pounds

Let’s be perfectly clear, if you’re looking to weigh anything more than a couple of ounces of herb, it’s clear you’re trying to sell. If you live in a state such as Idaho, where cannabis is illegal for all purposes, there is a world of difference between getting caught with a couple of ounces and a few ounces!

In Idaho, possession of three ounces or less is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. If you have more than three ounces but less than a pound of weed, it is classified as a felony with a jail sentence of up to five years and a fine of $10,000.

Back on topic, once you know how to convert ounces to pounds of weed, your next step is to discover how to weigh your product without spilling any weed. Although dispensaries provide you with perfectly measured ganja, you need to be accurate if measuring marijuana at home for edibles. After all, you don’t want to overdo the THC content in your hash brownies!

As far as weighing large quantities of weed is concerned, a large platform scale is your best friend as it helps you weigh out ounces and pounds safely. The average sized platform on one of these behemoths is 36 square inches which is about twice as large as a typical pocket scale.

Obviously, there are a few downsides associated with large platform scales. Portability is one; a severe issue if you’re trying to buy, sell, or measure your marijuana discreetly. There are some brands, such as the LB Series weed scale, which are large and portable. A large platform scale is especially useful when trying to create edibles on a wider scale.

Using Weed Scales to Figure Out How Many Ounces Are in a Pound

Although they don’t enable you to measure the same amount of weed as larger scales, stealth scales are ideal for discreetly measuring weed by ounces and grams (in other words, they probably won’t help you to remember that crucial 16 ounces to pounds conversions…).

If you shop online, you’ll find marijuana scales that look like everyday items. For instance, some scales resemble candy bars, CD cases, ashtrays, and even a computer mouse! There is also a hand scale which you hook to a bag of weed. It doesn’t compare to digital scales for accuracy, but it is handy in an emergency.

When buying a weed scale, you have to consider your budget and your needs. The type of scale you need for casual measuring and the type for heavier weights are very different indeed. A few years ago, $100 would barely get you a half-decent product but today, the same amount should get you a premium-quality scale capable of measuring to within a hundredth of a gram.

While this might not do you much good if/when you have to remind yourself how many ounces in pound, it’ll be super practical and effective for most day-to-day “cannabis operations.”

A Good Scale Will Tell You How Many Oz in a Pound… And MUCH More

While it’s great to have a kick-butt “super scale” that could accurately decipher a proper oz in lb conversion ratio for a massive marijuana transaction, it’s much more realistic to have one that consistently (and accurately) measures grams.

In fact, there’s no getting around the fact of needing a scale that measures in grams. When shopping for a good one, you’ll  want to choose a product capable of measuring to at least 0.1 of a gram, if not 0.01. 1/100 of a gram is overkill, but it does help guarantee accuracy.

Secondly, pick a scale with a maximum capacity of at least 200 grams. This equates to around seven ounces. Better yet, scales with a one-kilogram capacity (1,000 grams) can weigh up to 36 ounces or a little over two pounds of weed. For scales with larger maxes, make sure the measuring platform is large.

The majority of scales are battery powered so if you intend on weighing your weed regularly, it might be prudent to choose one that plugs into a wall socket. Given the low cost of scales, there is no need to compromise. You can find a pocket scale with a 1,000-gram capacity with accuracy to within 0.1 grams for under $10 on Amazon!

Although scales come with instructions, you shouldn’t need much guidance. Switch it on by pressing the power button and set the scale to 0.0 by pressing the ‘tare’ or ‘zero’ button. You must always ensure the scale is calibrated before you use it. To be fair, most scales come with calibration weights but this isn’t always the case. When in doubt, place a nickel on the scale. If it doesn’t weigh 5.0 grams, the scale is inaccurate.

Converting Oz in a Pound by Sight Alone… Is Not a Great Idea

We aren’t going to suggest that it is impossible to measure weed ‘by eye,’ but it is pretty close! You could perhaps get a rough idea of how much an ounce or pound of cannabis is by sight, but if you’re wrong by even 5%, the cost is significant.

The truth is, there are too many variables ever to get it right and even the most experienced weed user is no match for a digital scale.

If you browse online, you’ll find various photos depicting the weight of different marijuana strains. You’ll quickly learn that an ounce of indica looks different on the screen to an ounce of sativa.

And there are other things to consider. For instance, you have to take into account the differing densities of cannabis flowers. It is clear that 10 grams of a thin sativa is significantly larger than 10 grams of a dense indica (then there is the small matter of water content, which varies a lot from strain to strain).

Will You Ever Really Need to Know How Many Ounces Are in a Pound?

Consider this: outside of TV or the movies, have you ever really heard of “average” people needing to know how many oz are in a pound? I mean, how much is a pound of weed anyway?

To put it simply, it’s a lot of weed — a LOT. Unless you’ve got the tolerance of Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson and Seth Rogen combined, it would likely take you years to burn through a pound of quality bud all by yourself.

And by any standards, most average individuals should probably know (and have memorized) the fact that there are 16 oz in a lb. Knowing your oz per pound conversions is indeed a convenient tool to have, but in all reality there’s probably not much practical use for it — unless you’re a commercial grower or doing something like operating a dispensary.

Accurately Knowing How Many Oz in a Pound Can Save You Money… And Lots of It

If you don’t have scales and are purchasing the weed from an individual or a dispensary, you have to trust that they are giving you the right amount – even if it should be a relatively simple transaction that involves nothing more than converting grams to pounds and ounces.

While you can rely on state-backed dispensaries, this isn’t always the case with one-on-one purchases. Let’s face it, if such a person can get away with giving you 6 grams but charging you for a quarter (7 grams), there is a chance they will do it. And by any calculations, there can be a pretty massive discrepancy when executing the conversion of a significant amount of weed (i.e. 1 pound to oz, 1 pound to grams, etc).

A quick look at the 2018 Cannabis Index explains just how much a person can save if they have a digital scale. On average, a gram of weed costs $10.76 in New York, $18.08 in Washington and $7.58 in Seattle. If you live in Washington, would you be happy to get stiffed by a gram with every transaction? That equates to $18 a time!

Put it this way, if you bought something from a store for $120, how would you react if you received a bill for $138? That’s what can happen if you don’t invest in a digital scale to measure your weed.

Conclusion: How Many Ounces in a Pound

While the imperial system says there are 453.52 grams in a pound, cannabis measurements are a little bit different. There are 16 ounces in a pound and since each ounce is 28 grams, a pound of weed weighs 448 grams.

Even if you purchase your weed from a dispensary, it is still worth investing in a digital scale, especially if you want to create homemade edibles. Every so often, calibrate your scale with a 5.0-gram nickel or a 1.0-gram paper clip.

With so many scales to choose from, though, it isn’t easy to find the right one. We recommend narrowing your choice down by considering your budget and your needs. For most people, a $10 digital pocket scale will suffice. Sellers, though, will need a large platform scale because they’ll quite frequently need to known how many oz in pound, how many pounds are in a kilo, and so on.

Whatever you do, never rely on an eye measure for an accurate measurement. While there is no danger of being ripped off in a state where weed is legal, getting it wrong could have serious repercussions when creating those hash brownies!