Guide · Buyer guides
Half pound vs pound: the price-per-gram math
A pound is 453.59 g and a half pound is 226.80 g, so price per gram is the pound price divided by 453.59, or the half-pound price divided by 226.80. Two half pounds cost more than one pound whenever the half-pound price is above 50% of the pound price; the size of that markup decides which to buy.
Reviewed 2026-10-03. Prices in this guide are round example figures for the arithmetic. They are not this store’s prices; live prices are on each lot page.
Units: the fixed numbers
The avoirdupois pound is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kg (NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C). Every conversion below follows from it.
| Unit | Grams | Ounces | Share of a pound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pound (LB) | 453.59 g | 16 oz | 1 |
| Half Pound (HP) | 226.80 g | 8 oz | 1/2 |
| Quarter pound | 113.40 g | 4 oz | 1/4 |
| Ounce | 28.35 g | 1 oz | 1/16 |
| Eighth | 3.54 g (sold as 3.5 g) | 1/8 oz | 1/128 |
Retail eighths are usually packed at 3.5 g. That is 0.04 g under a true eighth, which matters when you count units out of a pound: 453.59 g makes 129 units at 3.5 g, not 128.
Turning any $/lb price into $/g
- $/g = $/lb ÷ 453.59. Shortcut: $/lb × 0.0022 is within 0.3%.
- $/oz = $/lb ÷ 16. This one is exact.
- Cost of an eighth = $/g × 3.5.
| Example price per pound | $/g | $/oz | Cost of 3.5 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| $400 | $0.88 | $25.00 | $3.09 |
| $600 | $1.32 | $37.50 | $4.63 |
| $800 | $1.76 | $50.00 | $6.17 |
| $1,000 | $2.20 | $62.50 | $7.72 |
| $1,200 | $2.65 | $75.00 | $9.26 |
For a half-pound price, divide by 226.80 instead. A $500 half pound is $2.20/g, the same per gram as a $1,000 pound.
The half-pound markup
Sellers usually price a half pound above half the pound price, because packing, handling and the call cost the same at either weight. The markup is easy to read:
markup = (2 × HP price ÷ LB price) − 1
| HP price as share of LB price | Markup on two HPs vs one LB | Extra per gram, at a $1,000 pound |
|---|---|---|
| 50.0% | 0% | $0.00 |
| 52.5% | 5% | $0.11 |
| 55.0% | 10% | $0.22 |
| 57.5% | 15% | $0.33 |
| 60.0% | 20% | $0.44 |
When the half pound is the better buy
The markup buys flexibility. It is worth paying in four cases:
- A first order with a new seller or a new lot. A half pound tests the COA match, the trim and the moisture at half the exposure.
- Two cultivars for one budget. Two half pounds from two lots cost more per gram than one pound, but give you two profiles to compare.
- Slow use. Flower loses terpenes and weight on the shelf. If a pound would sit open for months, part of the pound discount is spent on that loss.
- Cash on hand. A half pound ties up less money, and you can reorder when it runs low.
When the pound wins
- The markup is above about 10% and you will use the full pound while it is fresh.
- You want one lot and one COA for everything you hold, so every gram matches.
Several pounds: same math, one price list
In this store every buyer pays the listed HP and LB price, so five pounds of one lot cost five times the LB price, and the price per gram is the same as for one pound. There is no separate price list and no account to open. Put the pounds on the order sheet in LB and send the Order Request; the Operator confirms stock for the full weight on the call. See Large orders.
When you compare sellers, compare the price per gram you would pay for the weight you actually need, after any minimum order, not a headline price that only applies above a pound count you will not reach.
Price per gram received, not per gram paid
The gram that counts is the gram on your scale. Flower loses water after packing:
effective $/g = price ÷ grams weighed on arrival
A $1,000 pound packed at 12% moisture that reaches you at 10% weighs about 443.5 g, so it costs $2.25/g, not $2.20/g. The moisture table and the arrival routine are in Buying THCA by the pound.
Cost per eighth from a pound
To compare a pound with the eighths you would otherwise buy, work out what each eighth costs you:
| Line | How to compute |
|---|---|
| Flower per eighth | $/g received × 3.5 |
| Eighths per pound | grams received ÷ 3.5 |
| Loss allowance | grams lost to crumbs and drying, spread over the eighths |
At $1.76/g, the flower in a 3.5 g eighth costs $6.17. A pound received at 448 g makes 128 eighths.
The date that changes the math
From 2026-12-11 (P.L. 119-37 §781; date set by H.R. 6500) the federal hemp test counts THCA, so flower above 0.3% total THC stops being hemp in every state (CRS IF13136). As of 3 October 2026 that is 69 days away. Flower you will not use by then is not a discount. Size orders to the time left: a half pound now and another later carries less risk than a pound that may still be on hand on the date.
Sources
- NIST Handbook 44: unit definitions (Appendix C).
- CRS IF13136, 2026-08-17: federal total-THC definition and dates.
Questions
How many grams are in a pound and a half pound?
A pound is 453.59 g (16 oz). A half pound is 226.80 g (8 oz). An ounce is 28.35 g, and an eighth of an ounce is 3.54 g, usually sold as 3.5 g.
How do I convert a pound price to price per gram?
Divide the pound price by 453.59. A short version is pound price x 0.0022. A half-pound price divides by 226.80.
How do I know if a half pound costs more per gram than a pound?
Divide the half-pound price by the pound price and double it. Anything above 1.00 is the markup. A half pound at 55% of the pound price costs 10% more per gram.