Pras (India) to Ounce Converter

The ounce (symbol: oz, from Italian onza) is a unit of mass equal to exactly 1/16 of an avoirdupois pound, which is 28.349523125 grams in the metric system.

Avoirdupois Ounce vs. Troy Ounce

When Americans say "ounce" in everyday life, they almost always mean the avoirdupois ounce (28.35 g). However, there's a second type of ounce:

Avoirdupois Ounce (Standard Ounce):

• 28.35 grams
• Used for: food, cooking, postal weight, groceries, body weight, general commerce
• 16 ounces = 1 avoirdupois pound

Troy Ounce:

• 31.10 grams (about 10% heavier)
• Used exclusively for: precious metals (gold, silver, platinum), gemstones, gunpowder
• 12 troy ounces = 1 troy pound
• Abbreviated: "oz t" or "ozt"

Critical distinction: When buying gold or silver, prices are quoted per troy ounce (31.1 g), not avoirdupois ounce (28.35 g). A troy ounce is about 2.75 grams heavier than a standard ounce.

Ounce vs. Fluid Ounce

This is one of the most common sources of confusion in American cooking:

Ounce (oz): Measures weight/mass

• Used for solid or bulk ingredients: flour, sugar, meat, cheese
• 1 oz = 28.35 grams
• Measured with a scale

Fluid Ounce (fl oz): Measures volume/capacity

• Used for liquids: water, milk, juice, oil
• 1 fl oz = 29.57 milliliters (US) or 28.41 mL (UK)
• Measured with measuring cups

When they happen to match: For pure water at room temperature, 1 fluid ounce weighs approximately 1 ounce. This coincidence often misleads people into thinking oz and fl oz are interchangeable—they're not.

Example of the difference:

• 8 fl oz of water weighs about 8 oz
• 8 fl oz of honey weighs about 12 oz (honey is denser)
• 8 fl oz of olive oil weighs about 7.3 oz (oil is less dense)

Mathematical Relationships

1 ounce equals:

• 1/16 of a pound (exactly)
• 28.349523125 grams (exactly)
• 0.028349523125 kilograms
• 437.5 grains (grain is an even smaller unit)
• 28,349.523125 milligrams

Common fractions of a pound:

• 1 oz = 1/16 lb = 0.0625 lb
• 4 oz = 1/4 lb = 0.25 lb (quarter-pound)
• 8 oz = 1/2 lb = 0.5 lb (half-pound)
• 12 oz = 3/4 lb = 0.75 lb
• 16 oz = 1 lb (full pound)

Roman Origins: The Uncia

Latin Etymology: The word "ounce" comes from the Latin "uncia," meaning "one-twelfth" (related to "inch," from the same root).

Roman Measurement: In ancient Rome, the uncia was 1/12 of a Roman pound (libra), approximately 27 grams. The Romans used base-12 (duodecimal) systems for many measurements.

Symbol Origin: The abbreviation "oz" comes from the medieval Italian word onza (ounce), not from any English word starting with "o" and "z."

Medieval European Variation

Regional Chaos: Throughout medieval Europe, dozens of different "ounces" existed, varying by region, city, and trade guild. An ounce in Paris differed from an ounce in London, Venice, or Amsterdam.

Two Main English Systems:

Troy System (for precious goods):

• Used for gold, silver, jewels, and later gunpowder
• Troy ounce: 31.1 grams
• 12 troy ounces = 1 troy pound
• Named after Troyes, France, site of important medieval trade fairs

Avoirdupois System (for bulk goods):

• From French avoir de pois ("goods of weight")
• Used for wool, grain, cheese, meat—everyday bulk commodities
• Avoirdupois ounce: 28.35 grams
• 16 avoirdupois ounces = 1 avoirdupois pound
• Developed by medieval merchants for practical trade

English Standardization

1300s-1500s: Gradual Standardization: English monarchs attempted to standardize weights and measures, but variation persisted.

1588: Queen Elizabeth I: Confirmed the avoirdupois system for general trade, establishing 16 ounces per pound for commerce.

Troy System Preserved: The troy ounce remained the standard for precious metals, a tradition maintained to this day.

1959: International Agreement

Modern Definition: The 1959 international yard and pound agreement between the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa defined:

• 1 pound (avoirdupois) = exactly 453.59237 grams
• 1 ounce (avoirdupois) = exactly 1/16 pound = 28.349523125 grams

This eliminated minor variations between US and British measurements and anchored imperial units to the metric system.

Cooking and Baking

Recipe Measurements: American recipes commonly specify ingredient weights in ounces:

• Dry ingredients: flour, sugar, chocolate chips, nuts
• Solid fats: butter, shortening, cream cheese
• Proteins: chicken breasts (6 oz), ground beef (12 oz)

Kitchen Scales: Digital kitchen scales display weight in ounces (and grams), allowing precise measurement:

• Toggle between oz and g
• Tare function to zero out container weight
• Precision to 0.1 oz or 1 gram

Baker's Preference: Professional bakers prefer weight (ounces) over volume (cups) because:

• More accurate and consistent
• Eliminates measurement errors
• Works regardless of how ingredients settle or compact

Grocery Shopping and Pricing

Price per Pound, Sold by Ounce: Many items are priced per pound but sold in ounce quantities:

• Deli meat: "$8.99/lb, customer orders 6 oz"
• Cheese: "$10.99/lb, customer gets 4 oz"
• Bulk nuts: "$12.99/lb, customer takes 8 oz"

Nutrition Labels: US food labels show serving size in both household measures and ounces:

• "Serving Size: 3/4 cup (30g, about 1 oz)"
• This allows people to weigh food if they don't have measuring cups

Comparison Shopping: Savvy shoppers compare unit prices (price per ounce) to find better deals:

• Large box cereal: $0.25/oz
• Small box cereal: $0.35/oz
• Buying larger sizes often reduces cost per ounce

Postal Services and Shipping

USPS Pricing Tiers: First-Class Mail costs increase per ounce:

• 0-1 oz: $0.68 (2024 rate)
• 1-2 oz: $0.92
• 2-3 oz: $1.16
• 3-3.5 oz: $1.40

Package Weight Categories:

• Under 1 pound: priced per ounce
• Over 1 pound: typically priced per pound

Shipping Strategy: Sellers carefully package items to stay under weight thresholds, sometimes removing extra packaging to save an ounce.

Precious Metals and Jewelry

Troy Ounce Standard: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are traded globally in troy ounces:

• Gold price: "$2,050 per troy ounce" (example)
• Silver price: "$25 per troy ounce" (example)
• Bullion bars marked in troy ounces (1 oz, 10 oz, etc.)

Jewelry Weights: Precious metal jewelry is often described by weight:

• "14K gold chain, 0.5 troy oz"
• "Sterling silver bracelet, 1.2 troy oz"

Investment: Investors buy gold/silver coins and bars measured in troy ounces (1 oz American Gold Eagle, 5 oz silver bar).

Medical and Healthcare

Infant Weight: Hospitals and pediatricians measure newborn weight in pounds and ounces:

• Birth weight: "7 pounds 6 ounces"
• Weight checks: tracking gains of 4-6 oz per week
• Feeding goals: "baby should gain 5-7 oz weekly"

Medication Dosing: Some medications dose by body weight:

• Pediatric doses calculated per pound or per ounce
• Conversion to metric (kg) for precise dosing

Nutrition and Dietetics: Dietitians often recommend portion sizes in ounces:

• "3 oz serving of protein" (deck of cards size)
• "1 oz serving of cheese" (pair of dice size)

Portion Control and Diet

Standard Serving Sizes:

• Meat/fish: 3-4 oz (cooked)
• Cheese: 1-1.5 oz
• Nuts: 1 oz (small handful)
• Pasta: 2 oz dry per serving
• Cereal: 1 oz (varies by type; check label)

Visual Cues for Ounces:

• 3 oz meat = deck of playing cards
• 1 oz cheese = pair of dice
• 1 oz nuts = small handful
• 2 oz pasta = fits in cupped palm