All About Weed Measurements: A Complete Guide

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Trying to navigate different cannabis product options can be a real headache – not only do you have strains, terpenes, and cannabinoids to consider, but you’ll also need to choose a size that works for your needs.

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And, with so many numbers used to describe how much bud you’ll actually be getting, it’s easy to feel like you’re studying for a math test rather than deciding between Sour Diesel and Pineapple Express. 

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Luckily, understanding weed measurements is a fairly straightforward process. All you’ll need to know is what to look for and what size option makes sense for you. Let’s take a closer look. 

Quick Breakdown of Weed Measurements

Standard weed measurements usually are broken down into fragments of an ounce: an eighth, a quarter, a half, etc. Cannabis products are also marketed and sold by the gram, though, which can make things a bit confusing. 

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To understand how much bud you’re getting and what it might look like, you’ll really just need to pay attention to the size of the measurement. 

But first, a brief science lesson

To differentiate between grams and ounces or understand why it even matters to do so, it helps to familiarize yourself with the difference between mass versus weight. 

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Sound confusing? Think of the two like this:

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• Mass: The amount of “stuff” an object is made up of. 

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• Weight: The amount of force that gravity exerts on an object to keep it on Earth.

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A lot of times, we use the word “weight” to describe what is actually mass. But weight simply describes how hard gravity has to work to keep something grounded – that means your weight (in pounds or kilograms) would be different on Mars than on Earth.

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You can convert grams, a measure of mass, to pounds or ounces, measurements of weight, but the numbers aren’t always exact. 

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There are approximately 28 grams in an ounce. Knowing this might help you remember how many grams are in a given weed measurement.

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If that’s all too much to keep track of, no problem – memorizing the five to six sizes that cannabis is usually sold in is also pretty easy.

What Are the Measurements of Weed?

The following are the standard measurements used to sell cannabis flower. We’ll delve deeper into how to verify these measurements and figure out how much weight or mass you’re dealing with later on.

A gram

A single gram of cannabis usually consists of around one to two medium- or large-sized buds, depending on the quality of the flower. That’s about equal to one to two large bowls or a nice joint.

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This is typically the smallest amount of bud you can purchase at a dispensary and can be an ideal choice if you’d like to try a strain before committing to more of it.

An eighth

An eighth of weed contains 3.5 grams of product. It’s perhaps the most popular measurement of weed for consumers and medical cannabis patients. 

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An eighth usually gives you a decent amount of flower – typically around two to four buds or so – for a manageable price.

A quarter

A quarter of weed is double the size of an eighth, meaning it contains 7 grams of bud. The appearance of a quarter can vary heavily depending on the type of flower and how thick and fluffy its buds are, but it usually can fit in two hands or a small container.

A half

14 grams of weed can be found in a half, which is usually enough to fill up a typical plastic sandwich bag. Again, it can be hard to eyeball a half – 14 grams of small buds might look like a lot more than 14 grams of large, dense buds.

An ounce or pound

Rarely purchased are ounces of weed, which are around 28 grams, and pounds of weed, which contain about 453 grams. You’re unlikely to spot more than an ounce on the market, but it is possible in some cases (like purchasing wholesale cannabis). 

Common Measurements of Weed: Chart

To keep all of that information straight and make it easy to figure out your ideal weed measurements, check out this basic breakdown:

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*Wait, how many grams are in a pound? Because the gram is a metric unit and a pound is an imperial unit, there’s a small discrepancy in the math. They’re like different languages; it can be hard to directly translate one to another. One pound is equal to 453 grams, even though there are 16 ounces in a pound and 28 grams in an ounce (16 x 28 = 448).

How to Check Measurements of Weed Yourself

Especially when handling larger quantities, it can be helpful to know how to double-check weed measurements: what does an ounce of weed look like, after all, and how can you easily make sure you got what you paid for?

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As we’ve discussed, it can be hard to verify weed measurements just by their appearance. Having a general idea of what to look for can help you spot obvious discrepancies (getting an eighth rather than a quarter, for example), but you’ll also likely need to take steps to put numbers to your bud count.

Ask Your Budtender

If you’re shopping in person at a dispensary, you can ask the person who’s preparing your purchase (usually known as a “budtender”) for more information. 

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You’ll likely be able to see your bud being weighed out in front of you, much like you might expect at a deli or grocery counter. But if this isn’t the case, don’t be afraid to ask what you can do to double-check your order.

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Your product may come pre-packaged by the brands who produce it, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your budtender can’t help you weigh it or instruct you on what to do if you end up with less than you should have.

Check the Packaging

Though sellers typically market their products online and in stores using the same base numbers (a certain THC percentage, milligrams of CBD, etc.), each individual product should also contain what’s known as a certificate of analysis (COA).

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A COA breaks down the specific profiles and weight of the compounds that make up your bud. It may, for example, tell you how much of your product’s weight comes from THC or terpenes rather than general plant material. 

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You can see specific information about how much your product weighs, too, which can be a great way to quickly see what you’re working with. 

Break Out the Scale

For the best estimate of how much bud you actually end up with after making a purchase, you may want to weigh your product yourself. Different scales can sometimes yield slightly different results – better scales may be able to give more accurate and specific readings – but in general, any discrepancies you notice should be minute. 

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You can use a basic home food scale to measure how many ounces of flower you have and convert this number using the chart above as a guide. Other scales may be able to measure in both grams and ounces. Just make sure that the unit your scale uses is what you’re expecting to avoid any confusion.

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Say you’ve ordered a half: if you end up with .532 ounces, for example, you know you’ve received what you paid for – in fact, you even got a little extra! But, if your scale reads below 0.5 oz, you may be running a bit short. 

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It’s important to note that many factors can impact how much bud ends up in your package, so a very small deficit here and there might be inevitable if you regularly buy flower. But being shorted repeatedly may be something worth noting.

Final Thoughts

Feeling confident about measurements of weed can help you shop smart and make informed decisions about how much you consume. Weed measurements might be especially important if you’re aiming to consume a certain dose over a given period. 

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As always, it’s best to speak with a doctor before starting or stopping any medication or substance that can impact your health, including CBD and cannabis, to find out what’s best for you.

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Measurements are only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to finding the right cannabis products. We’re equipped to help you discover which flower or other cannabis products might best fit your needs, no matter how large or small. Feel free to contact us today for a consultation.

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