Gram, Eighth, Quarter, Ounce: Understanding Weed Weights

You may have heard various weights being thrown around when people talk about buying cannabis – a gram, an eighth, a quarter. But what do these actually mean in practical terms? And more importantly, what do they look like? We’ve got answers to all your questions below.

The universal baseline denominator for talking about the quantity and price of cannabis is one ounce. So, when you see pricing for eighths and quarters, that’s 1/8 or 1/4th of an ounce being offered. To help put this into perspective:

Note: Keep in mind that since cannabis buds are natural products, the physical appearance of a specific weight may fluctuate depending on the strain and even crop. This isn’t an exact science, but more like a general guide. With this knowledge in hand, don’t be alarmed if each stash looks unique – it’s supposed to!

For a quick overview of the most common weed measurements and popular slang terms for weed weight, keep reading. If you want more detailed information, be sure to check out the links at the end of this article.

Breakdown of weed measurements

We’ll begin with the most minuscule unit of measurement and then progress upwards.

Gram

The gram is a metric unit of mass equal to one-thousandth of a kilogram. Ounces are notably larger, making grams perfect for those cannabis consumers who want to buy weed in tiny amounts – like if they’re wanting to sample something new or don’t indulge frequently.

The other units of measurement for cannabis all have to do with ounces, either whole or in fractions.

Eighth

An eighth is an ounce, or 3 .5 grams of weed, which is one of the most popular quantities among users. Many people find that this amount is perfect; it provides enough where you feel like you have plenty at your disposal, but not so much as to make you feel rushed in consuming it.

Quarter

The next unit of measurement is a quarter ounce, or 7 grams. Although technically a quarter ounce weighs 7.0874 grams, the industry standard is to round down to the nearest whole gram.

Half

A “half” is a colloquial term for half an ounce of weed, which weighs 14 grams.

Ounce

One ounce of weed usually contains 28.3 grams, but to make things simpler, most people round down to 28 grams. When purchasing weed from a dispensary, an ounce is typically the largest amount you can buy due at one time due to possession laws. However, those who work within the cannabis industry like buyers and dispensary owners can buy larger quantities in bulk – including pounds and kilograms.

Pound

A pound of cannabis is one of the rarest weed quantities and is largely only seen by growers and dispensary owners. A pound contains 16 ounces of weed, which can also be thought of as 16 times the largest amount one person can buy at a time. In terms of scale, it’s likely enough weed to last the average smoker for an entire year.

Here’s a quick chart to help you understand how weed is measured, and the equivalent amount in grams:

• 1 eighth = ⅛-ounce = 3.5 grams
• 1 quarter = ¼-ounce = 7 grams
• 1 half = ½-ounce = 14 grams
• 1 ounce = 28 grams
• 1 pound = 453 grams*

*You might be wondering, if there are 16 ounces in a pound and 28 grams in an ounce, wouldn’t there be 448 grams in a pound? This discrepancy has to do with the fact that the gram is a metric unit of measurement while pounds are imperial units commonly used here.

Slang terms for weed measurements

A dime bag of weed refers to a small, plastic bag containing marijuana worth $10. This is typically around 1 gram, but can vary. You may also see it spelled as one word: Dimebag. The term is becoming increasingly rare due to the cannabis being pre-packaged in eighths ahead of time.

A dub refers to either 2 grams of weed or $20 worth of weed. The term “dub” is used in this context since it means double, and 2 grams costs twice as much as a dime bag (1 gram).

A slice is another term for an eighth of weed, or 3.5 grams.

An ounce of weed is commonly referred to as a zip. It’s rumored that this slang term originated because an ounce of weed fits perfectly in a Ziploc bag, but others say the word ‘zip’ is just shorthand for ‘ounce.’

How to make sure you’re getting what you pay for

When you buy cannabis, you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. The only way to be certain of the weight is to use a scale.

A quarter of an ounce is equivalent to seven grams, but it’s tough to tell how much a weed weighs just by looking at it.

If you purchase flower from a bulk bin, the budtender should weigh your cannabis while you watch. If you can’t remember the gram conversions by the time you reach the dispensary, don’t hesitate to ask your budtender; they will know how many grams are in an eighth, quarter, half, or ounce and then weigh out the corresponding amount of weed to show you. In this way, you can be certain that you’re taking home exactly what paid for.

In states where cannabis is legal for adults, flower typically comes pre-packaged and weighed before it arrives at the dispensary. If you want to make sure the weight is accurate, use a scale at home.