Weed Measurements Guide: Marijuana Weights, Amounts & Sizes

28 April 2022
How to understand how much marijuana will be in a gram or a quarter? How does pot cost differ from weight?
28 April 2022
11 min read
Weed Measurements Guide: Marijuana Weights, Amounts & Sizes

Contents:
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  • 1. Weed measurements guide
  • 2. Quick weed weight guide
  • 3. Common units of cannabis measurement
  • 3. a. Gram of weed
  • 3. b. Eighth of weed (3.5 grams)
  • 3. c. Quarter of weed (7 grams)
  • 3. d. Half ounce (oz) (14 grams)
  • 3. e. Ounce of cannabis (28 grams)
  • 3. f. Additional units of measure
  • 3. g. 2 grams aka a dub (2 grams)
  • 3. h. A quarter pound aka a qp(113 grams)
  • 3. i. A pound of weed aka an l(453 grams)
  • 4. How to weigh a weed without a scale
  • 4. a. The ruler & the penny
  • 4. b. The plastic hanger method
  • 4. c. The weed scale app
  • 5. When should you buy a gram? an eighth? an ounce?
  • 5. a. How to measure the amount of thc or cbd
  • 6. How much does weed cost
  • 7. Pro tips
  • 8. Faq
  • 8. a. How much is a half oz of cannabis?
  • 8. b. How much is a zip of weed?
  • 8. c. What does an eighth of weed look like?
  • 8. d. What slang terms are used for grams?
  • 8. e. What is a dime bag?
  • 8. f. How many grams are in a dub?
  • 8. g. How much is a qp?

Weed Measurements Guide

If you’re new to the world of cannabis, you’re probably surprised or confused by how much math is involved in the process of buying weed. This happens because dispensaries do not sell cannabis flowers by gram as they’re generally measured by fractions of an ounce such as ⅛, ¼, or ½. Obviously, you will be able to buy just one gram of weed but an eighth of an ounce (aka 3.5 grams) will cost less than buying 3.5 grams of weed separately. And the more you buy, the cheaper the price. This means that if you get ¼ of an ounce (aka 7 grams) or ½ an ounce (aka 14 grams) or even a full ounce (aka 28 grams) it will be much cheaper than buying the same amount in separate grams.

So let’s take a deeper look at the typical weights you may find in your local dispensary and learn a bit more about them.

Quick Weed Weight Guide

But for those who are just looking for a quick weed weight guide, here’s a table with the most common cannabis denominations and their exact weight in grams.

 

Weed measurement Weight in grams
One eighth 3.543 grams
1 quarter ounce 7.087 grams
1 half ounce 14.175 grams
Three-quarter ounce 21.262 grams
1 ounce 28.345 grams
1 pound 453.592 grams

 

Remember that most dispensaries just round down the weights, so for example, if you buy an eighth you will get 3.5 grams rather than 3.543 grams.

Common Units Of Cannabis Measurement

Now that you know more about marijuana measurements and know exactly how many grams you’ll get when shopping for an eighth, a quarter, half an ounce, three-quarter ounce, a full ounce, and a pound, let’s learn a bit more about the different weed denominations, their cost and the most common slang terms used for them.

Gram of Weed

1 gram of weed is probably the lowest amount you will find in legal dispensaries, a gram of cannabis flower is enough for 1 or 2 joints, depending on how fat you like your joints.

How much weight is a gram of weed

Well, a gram is a gram. To put it into context, 1 gram is 1/28 of an ounce.

How much does a gram cost

The price of a gram of cannabis varies as cannabis is priced differently depending on the quality and potency. Having said that, you can expect a gram of weed to cost anywhere from $10-20, depending on where you live.

What slang terms are used for gram of weed

The slang term for a gram of weed is a dime bag. This may differ as there are different slang terms depending on where you live, so there’s really no need to know them all.

 

Weed measurements guide: an eighth of weed

An eighth of weed is exactly 3.543 grams.

Eighth of Weed (3.5 Grams)

An eighth of weed is probably the most common cannabis denomination you will find and allows you to get more for a better price.

How many grams are in eighth of weed

By definition, an eighth will get you 3.5 grams of weed but this depends on the dispensary you shop at because ⅛ of an ounce is exactly 3.543, some dispensaries round it down to 3.5 but others may round it up to 4 grams.

How much is an eighth of weed

The cost of an eighth varies from state to state, but in general, you’ll find eighths of weed for $25-35.

What slang terms are used for eighth of weed

There are several different slang terms for an eighth of weed, the most common being a slice, eify, and a cut.

Quarter of Weed (7 Grams)

A quarter of weed (aka 7 grams) is more suitable for those avid consumers who like to smoke fatter joints.

How many grams are in a quarter of weed

There are exactly 7.087 grams in a quarter of an ounce of weed, which gets rounded down to 7 grams in most cannabis shops. To give you an idea, 7 grams of weed allows you to roll around 8-10 blunts and 12-15 joints.

How much is a quarter of weed

It’s hard to say how much a quarter of weed costs as it will vary greatly from state to state, but mainly due to the quality of the cannabis flower. So you can expect a quarter to go anywhere from $40-80. This means that top-shelf weed will be closer to $80 while mid-shelf weed will be closer to $40.

What slang terms are used for quarter of weed

A quarter of weed is usually referred to as a quad but this term will vary regionally so don’t worry if you don’t know all the terms, you can always ask for 7 grams instead.

 

Weed measurements guide: a quarter of weed

A quarter of weed aka 7 grams of flower.
 

Remember, you don't need to know all the slang terms as they vary from state to state, from country to country, so as long as people know what you mean you should be fine.

Half Ounce (OZ) (14 Grams)

Starting from half an ounce, we’re moving to the bigger denominations. Half an ounce should last at least 1-2 weeks and is usually sought after by more avid consumers.

How many grams are in a half ounce

Half an ounce gets you exactly 14 grams, that’s +30 joints and 20-25 blunts.

How much is a half ounce

A half ounce goes for an average of $100-120, that’s around $7-10 grams so by getting a half ounce you’re actually saving a little bit.

What slang terms are used for half ounce

There are a couple different term slangs used to refer to half an ounce of weed, including a half-O, half an O or half a zip.

Ounce of Cannabis (28 Grams)

After going through all these denominations, we’ve finally made it to the full ounce aka 28 grams. In many legal states, 28 grams is the maximum amount of cannabis a single person can own at a given time so never possess more than 28 grams if you want to stay safe.

How many grams are in an ounce of cannabis

There are exactly 28.345 grams in an ounce of weed, which is rounded down to 28 grams in most cannabis shops. That’s 30-60 blunts and 100 joints or more!

How much is an ounce of cannabis

Again, the price of an ounce will vary according to the quality. For low-quality weed you’ll pay between $150-200 for an ounce, whereas for top-shelf flowers you’ll pay $300 or more.

What slang terms are used for ounce of cannabis

The most common slang term you’ll hear is Zip, but you’ll also find that in some regions they call it an O Zone or a Lid.

Additional Units of Measure

Now, the weed denominations mentioned above are not the only ones you’ll find when shopping for weed at your local dispensary. So here are the less common denominations you’ll find when shopping for weed.

2 grams aka A Dub (2 Grams)

In some places you may be able to find a dub aka 2 grams of weed. This denomination is not very common as most dispensaries already sell grams of weed, but if you do, a dub costs around $20-30, depending on the quality of the weed.

A Quarter Pound aka A QP(113 Grams)

A quarter-pound or QP, as the name suggests, is a quarter of a pound which gets you around 113 grams or a total of 100 blunts or +200 joints. But it’s not always easy to find a quarter-pound so the price can vary according to the state but in general, a QP goes anywhere from $800 - 1500, depending on quality.

A pound of weed aka An L(453 Grams)

And finally, a pound of weed aka an L aka 453 grams. The average price for a pound can range anywhere from $1500-2500, depending on where you buy it and quality. Other slang terms used to refer to a pound of weed are an L or an L-Bow, which are shortened versions of LB (pound).

How to Weigh A Weed Without a Scale

If for some reason you cannot buy or get your hands on a weed scale, there are several different ways for you to weigh your weed. Here are a couple of techniques that may help you when you’re in a hurry but remember that the only way to be 100% sure is to use a precision scale.

The Ruler & The Penny

The ruler and the penny technique requires a coin and a ruler. All you have to do is search online for the weight of the specific coin you’re using.

 

Weed measurements guide: the coin and ruler method

The coin and ruler method can be used to wight your weed but it's not as precise as a scale!
 

So all you have to do is use the ruler as a scale and place the weed on one side and the coin on the other, once the ruler is perfectly balanced it means that you have that same weight of marijuana.

The Plastic Hanger Method

The plastic hanger method is fairly similar to the ruler and the coin method but you’ll need a plastic hanger, a string and a pair of scissors. So all you have to do is use the scissors to cut off the top part of the hanger and drill a hole in the center of the hanger. Then drill a hole on the left and right parts of the hanger, ensuring they’re at equal distances from the middle. Then cut two pieces of string of the same length and put one on each side of the hanger, and another piece of string for the middle. Once everything is finished you can start using your plastic hanger as a scale!

The Weed Scale App

Now if you want to keep it simple, you can download any “weed scale “ app from the play store. These types of apps are not very precise but will give you an approximate weight. So remember, if you want precision you will have to get a weed scale.

When Should You Buy a Gram? An Eighth? An Ounce?

It’s hard to say exactly when to buy a gram, eighth, ounce, or any other denomination because it depends on how much you smoke, but to help you out, here’s a list of the weed denominations available in most dispensaries, the prices, and when they’re suitable.

A gram of weed

A gram of cannabis flower usually costs between $7 and $18, and it’s recommended for those who want to try a new strain or just looking for a quick smoke.

An eighth of weed

An eighth of weed costs between $35 and $60, depending on where you live, and usually gets you around 2-3 blunts or 5-6 joints, so it’s recommended if you have already tried the strain and want to stock up.

A quarter of weed

A quarter of cannabis flower goes for as little as $70 and as much as $100, depending on quality. This amount of weed is recommended for those who want to stock up for a week or more, as a quarter of weed gets you 7-9 blunts and up to 15 joints.

A half-ounce of weed

The price for half an ounce ranges from $110 to $180 and this is where you start getting into the bigger denominations. Half an ounce can last as long as you need to if you’re a smoker with discipline, but in general, it can last anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks.

A whole ounce of weed

An ounce of weed can cost up to $350 but can cost as little as $100 depending on the quality. A whole ounce can last up to a month or even more, so it’s recommended to buy an ounce if there’s a good deal and also to avoid having to take trips to the dispensary back and forth.

A pound of weed

Now the final weed denomination is a pound of weed. It’s hard to say exactly how much a pound costs as it’s illegal to buy a pound in most legal dispensaries, so we don’t recommend buying a pound unless you can do it legally. Having said that, for a pound of weed you can expect to pay around $1500 up to $2500.

How to Measure The Amount Of THC Or CBD

One of the factors that affect the price of any of the weed denominations mentioned above is the amount of THC or CBD. There are several different ways to measure the amount of cannabinoids in a cannabis product and we know that the average cannabinoid percentage in legal dispensaries ranges between 15-30%.

 

Weed measurements guide: how to measure thc and cbd

There's no way to measure THC and CBD percentage without the right equipment, but your local budtender should provide this information.
 

But unfortunately, there’s no way for you to measure the amount of THC or CBD in your cannabis product unless you have the proper equipment so always make sure to buy from reputable vendors so you know you’re getting what you’re paying for as legal cannabis products should have a lab test available for you to get informed.

How Much Does Weed Cost

Now that you know the price of weed in legal dispensaries, let’s take a look at the average price in places where cannabis is not legal.

France

In France where there’s the highest number of cannabis consumers in Europe, the average price of an ounce is about $256.

Portugal

In Portugal, you can expect to pay $300 for an ounce of high-quality weed.

United Kingdom

Now in the UK, the average price for an ounce of top-shelf weed ranges from $250 - $350.

Australia

In Australia, the price for an ounce can be a bit higher, ranging anywhere from $300 to $350, depending on the strain and quality.

Pro Tips

If you want your weed to last a bit longer, here are a couple of tips to help you out. It’s extremely important for you to grind your cannabis fairly small and even, in order for you to do this you should get the right grinder. By doing this your joint will burn more even and you avoid wasting weed!

FAQ

How much is a half oz of cannabis?

A half-ounce of weed is exactly 14.175 grams, but rounded down to 14 grams in legal dispensaries.

How much is a zip of weed?

A zip aka an ounce of weed will get you exactly 28 grams of cannabis flower.

What does an eighth of weed look like?

Well, it depends on the type of flower as the genetics of the strain will affect the density and size of the flowers. But in general, an eight of weed is 2-3 medium-sized buds.

What slang terms are used for grams?

It depends as the slang terms vary from region to region but in most places a gram is called a dime bag.

What is a dime bag?

As mentioned above, a dime bag is the slang term for a gram of weed.

How many grams are in a dub?

A dub of bud or simply a dub is the slang term for 2 grams of weed!

How much is a QP?

A QP or quarter pound of weed is a quarter of a pound, which will get you approximately 113 grams of cannabis flower.

 

External References

  1. Weed measurements guide - Colorado cannabis tours
  2. How to measure weed guide - Jars cannabis
  3. Weed measurements - Weedmaps
  4. How to measure weed: A guide to weed measurements - Dynavap
  5. Weed measurements - Honest marijuana
  6. Weed measurements: Everything you need to know - A pot for pot