There are 16 ounces in 1 pound. To convert pounds to ounces, multiply by 16; to convert ounces to pounds, divide by 16. Half a pound is 8 ounces, a quarter pound is 4 ounces, and 2.5 pounds is 40 ounces. This applies to the avoirdupois pound and ounce used for groceries, parcels and body weight in the US.
How many ounces are in a pound?
NIST's conversion factors (SP 811, Appendix B.8) list the avoirdupois pound as 0.4535924 kg and the avoirdupois ounce as 0.02834952 kg. Dividing, 0.4535924 ÷ 0.02834952 = 16.000, so a pound always contains 16 of the ounces used on a kitchen scale.
In grams, one pound is about 453.59 g (16 × 28.34952), and one ounce is about 28.35 g. For US nutrition labels, the FDA rounds the ounce to 28 g (21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii)), so label figures built on that rule run about 1.2% below the exact value.
Ounces to pounds chart
| Pounds | Ounces | Grams (approx.) | Kilograms (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 lb | 4 | 113.4 | 0.113 |
| 1/2 lb | 8 | 226.8 | 0.227 |
| 3/4 lb | 12 | 340.2 | 0.340 |
| 1 lb | 16 | 453.6 | 0.454 |
| 1 1/2 lb | 24 | 680.4 | 0.680 |
| 2 lb | 32 | 907.2 | 0.907 |
| 2.2 lb | 35.2 | 997.9 | 0.998 |
| 5 lb | 80 | 2,267.96 | 2.268 |
| 10 lb | 160 | 4,535.9 | 4.536 |
The converters lbs to oz and oz to lbs handle any other value, and pounds to grams goes straight to the metric side.
How do I convert ounces to pounds and ounces?
Divide the ounces by 16. The whole number is the pounds, and 16 times the remainder is the ounces left over.
| Total ounces | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 20 oz | 20 ÷ 16 = 1 remainder 4 | 1 lb 4 oz |
| 52 oz | 52 ÷ 16 = 3 remainder 4 | 3 lb 4 oz |
| 118 oz | 118 ÷ 16 = 7 remainder 6 | 7 lb 6 oz |
| 100 oz | 100 ÷ 16 = 6 remainder 4 | 6 lb 4 oz |
Worked examples
Example 1: price per pound
Ground meat costs $4.99 per pound and the package weighs 12 oz. 12 ÷ 16 = 0.75 lb, and 4.99 × 0.75 = $3.74.
Example 2: pounds and ounces to ounces
A weight of 7 lb 6 oz is 7 × 16 + 6 = 118 oz. In kilograms, 118 × 0.02834952 = 3.345 kg.
Example 3: a weight limit in ounces
A scale reads in ounces and a rule allows up to 1 lb. A package of 0.75 lb is 0.75 × 16 = 12 oz, so it is 4 oz under the limit.
Example 4: splitting a bulk bag
A 5 lb bag of flour split into 6 oz portions gives 80 ÷ 6 = 13.33, so 13 full portions with 2 oz left over (80 − 78).
Example 5: ounces to grams for a metric recipe
A recipe lists 8 oz of cream cheese. 8 × 28.34952 = 226.8 g, about half a pound. The label rounding of 28 g per ounce would give 224 g.
Is an ounce of weight the same as a fluid ounce?
No. The pound's 16 ounces are units of weight. A fluid ounce is a unit of volume: 16 US fl oz make a pint, 29.57 mL each. For plain water the two are close, because a US pint of water weighs a little over a pound, but oil, honey and flour weigh differently per fluid ounce. That is why a recipe in cups cannot be turned into ounces of weight without the ingredient's density; see how many ounces in a cup and the cups to grams chart.
What is a troy ounce?
Gold, silver and platinum are quoted in troy ounces. NIST lists the troy ounce as 31.10348 g, against 28.34952 g for the avoirdupois ounce. The ratio is 31.10348 ÷ 28.34952 = 1.097, so a troy ounce is about 9.7% heavier. A pound of flour and a "pound" of a precious metal are therefore not counted in the same ounces. Kitchen scales and parcel scales use the avoirdupois ounce.
Quick ways to remember
- 16 ounces = 1 pound, and 8, 4 and 12 are the half, quarter and three-quarter pound.
- Multiply a pound weight by 16 to move to ounces, divide by 16 to move back.
- About 28 g per ounce, about 454 g per pound is accurate enough for most cooking; the metric vs imperial guide compares the two systems in more depth, and kg to lbs converts larger weights.