Pounds to Grams Converter
1 US pound equals 453.592 grams (16 ounces).
Interactive Pounds to Grams (lb to g) Converter
1 avoirdupois pound equals 16 ounces or exactly 453.59237 grams (conventionally rounded to 454g). 2.205 pounds make 1 kilogram.
Equivalent Across All 4 Weight Units
Exact mass values in Metric and Imperial standardsUnderstanding Pounds to Grams (lb to g) Conversion
In American grocery stores and recipes, bulk foods, whole poultry, meats, and bags of flour or sugar are sold by the pound (lb). Converting pounds to grams is essential when following metric bread formulas or calculating dough yields.
Standard pound conversion benchmarks:
- 1/4 pound (4 oz): 113.40 grams (1 stick of butter)
- 1/2 pound (8 oz): 226.80 grams (standard block of cheese)
- 3/4 pound (12 oz): 340.19 grams (standard bag of chocolate chips)
- 1 pound (16 oz): 453.59 grams (~454 grams)
- 2 pounds (32 oz): 907.18 grams (~0.91 kg)
- 2.205 pounds (35.27 oz): exactly 1,000 grams (1 kilogram)
- 5 pounds: 2,267.96 grams (~2.27 kg / standard American flour sack)
How to Convert Pounds to Grams: Formula & Calculation
Grams (g) = Pounds (lb) × 453.59237 Kilograms (kg) = Pounds (lb) ÷ 2.20462 - Multiply by 453.59: Multiply your pound measurement by 453.592 (or 454 for everyday cooking).
- Convert ounces first: If your weight is expressed as pounds and ounces (e.g. 2 lbs 4 oz), convert the ounces to decimal pounds first (4 ÷ 16 = 0.25 lb, so 2.25 lbs total), then multiply by 453.59.
- For kilograms: Divide total grams by 1,000 (e.g., 2,268 grams = 2.27 kg).
Worked Culinary Examples
Example 1: Bag of All-Purpose Flour
An American home baker bought a 5-pound bag of flour and wants to calculate baker's percentage batches in grams.
- Formula: 5 lbs × 453.592 g/lb.
- Calculation: 5 × 453.592 = 2,267.96 grams (~2,268g).
- Loaf yields: At 500g of flour per loaf, 5 lbs yields 4 full artisan loaves plus 268g extra.
Example 2: Whole Roasting Chicken
A roast chicken recipe lists cooking time as 20 minutes per 500 grams. Your bird weighs 3.5 pounds.
- Formula: 3.5 lbs × 453.592 g/lb = 1,587.57 grams (~1.59 kg).
- Cooking segments: 1,587.5g ÷ 500g = 3.175 segments.
- Time: 3.175 × 20 min = approx. 64 minutes roasting time.
Quick Reference Conversion Table: Pounds to Grams & Kilograms
| Pounds (lb) | Grams (g) | Kilograms (kg) | Ounces (oz) | Common Grocery Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 lb | 113.4 g | 0.11 kg | 4 oz | 1 stick of butter (4 oz) |
| 1/2 lb | 226.8 g | 0.23 kg | 8 oz | Standard block of cheese |
| 3/4 lb | 340.2 g | 0.34 kg | 12 oz | - |
| 1 lb | 453.6 g | 0.45 kg | 16 oz | 1 loaf sourdough bread |
| 1 1/2 lb | 680.4 g | 0.68 kg | 24 oz | - |
| 2 lb | 907.2 g | 0.91 kg | 32 oz | Family pack ground beef |
| 2 1/2 lb | 1,134 g | 1.13 kg | 40 oz | - |
| 3 lb | 1,360.8 g | 1.36 kg | 48 oz | Small roasting chicken |
| 4 lb | 1,814.4 g | 1.81 kg | 64 oz | - |
| 5 lb | 2,268 g | 2.27 kg | 80 oz | Retail bag of flour or sugar |
| 8 lb | 3,628.7 g | 3.63 kg | 128 oz | - |
| 10 lb | 4,535.9 g | 4.54 kg | 160 oz | Bulk sack of potatoes |
Important Notes When Converting Pounds to Grams
Compound Pounds and Ounces
Kitchen scales in the US often display "1 lb 4.2 oz". Do not mistake this for 1.42 pounds. Convert the 4.2 ounces separately (4.2 ÷ 16 = 0.26 lb), giving 1.26 lbs (572 grams).
Meat Shrinkage During Cooking
Meat recipes specify raw weight in pounds. Ground beef or poultry loses 20% to 25% of its weight as water and fat render during cooking.
British Stone (st)
In traditional British cookbooks, larger bulk goods are sometimes listed in stones. 1 stone = 14 pounds = 6.35 kilograms.
Scale Capacity Limits
Standard home digital kitchen scales have a maximum capacity of 5 kg (11 lbs) or 3 kg (6.6 lbs). Never place cast iron pots with heavy roasts exceeding your scale's load cell limit.