How to Convert Pounds to Ounces: Simplest Methods

Mixi September 13, 2021 | 08:01

Converting pounds to ounces is something that you might need to do when taking a school science class. Check out the simplest methods right below!

How to Convert Pounds to Ounces: Simplest Methods

Illustrated picture. Photo: Mixi

Converting pounds (lbs) to ounces (oz) is simple. Since there are exactly 16 ounces in one pound, just multiply the number of pounds by 16 to make the conversion.

What is a Pound?

One pound is defined as a unit of mass/weight equal to 16 ounces, or 0.45359237 kilograms. One pound is equal to 7,000 grains in the avoirdupois or apothecaries' systems.[1]

The pound is a US customary and imperial unit of weight. A pound is sometimes also referred to as a common ounce. Pounds can be abbreviated as lb, and are also sometimes abbreviated as lbs, lbm, or #. For example, 1 pound can be written as 1 lb, 1 lbs, 1 lbm, or 1 #.

What is an Ounce?

Photo: KnowInsiders

One ounce is a unit of mass/weight equal to 1/16 of a pound. The common ounce should not be confused with the troy ounce, which is equal to 1/12 of a troy pound.[2]

The ounce is a US customary and imperial unit of weight. Ounces can be abbreviated as oz; for example, 1 ounce can be written as 1 oz.

The Magic of Ounces

The first magic of ounce is the fact that one Imperial fluid ounce equals to one avoirdupois ounce of water. To tell the truth, it is not really a magic, just some math. There are 10 pounds of water in an imperial gallon, and one avoirdupois pound contains 16 ounces. It means one imperial gallon contains 16*10 = 160 avoirdupois ounces of water. Since there are exactly 160 imperial fluid ounces in an imperial gallon, the magic disappears, leaving the two ounces equal to each other.

The second magic about fluid ounces is the fact imperial and U.S. fluid ounces are very close in size. The U.S. fluid ounce is only 4% bigger than its imperial sister unit. How could that be if U.S. and imperial gallons are so different? It is because one imperial gallon contains 160 fl.oz. while one U.S. gallon contains only 128 fl.oz. This compensates the difference and makes fluid ounces so close.

How Many Ounces are in a Pound?

There are 16 ounces in a pound, which is why we use this value in the formula above.

1 lb = 16 oz

How to Convert Pounds to Ounces

Photo: KnowInsiders

Convert Pounds to Ounces - Method 1: Using this simple formula to convert

ounces = pounds × 16

For example, here's how to convert 5 pounds to ounces using the formula above.

5 lb = (5 × 16) = 80 oz

Tips: Don't forget the "ounces" label. Writing "ounces" or "oz" next to your answer is important. If you don't, it won't be clear which units you converted to. If you're doing this work for school, you may even lose points for forgetting to label.

In our example, we would write our answer as either "160 ounces" or "160 oz." Both mean the same thing.

Convert Pounds to Ounces - Method 2: Dealing With Non-Standard Ounces

Don't confuse fluid ounces with ordinary ounces. "Fluid ounces" (fl oz) are used for volume, or the space something takes up. They are usually used for liquids (like water, milk, juice, etc.). Fluid ounces do not tell an object's weight. This means that 16 fl oz of a certain liquid doesn't necessarily weigh 1 lb.

As an example, one fluid ounce of honey weighs about 1 1/2 ounces. This means that 16 fl oz weighs about 24 ounces, or a pound and a half.

Use troy ounces for precious metals. Troy ounces, which are used to weigh precious metals like gold and silver, are a little heavier than ordinary ounces. There are about 14.6 troy ounces in a pound.This means that to convert a pound to troy ounces, you can multiply by 14.6.

* For example, let's say that an old, heavy gold necklace is weighed at exactly half a pound. We can convert to troy ounces by multiplying 0.5 × 14.6 = 7.3 troy ounces.

Convert between oz/square inch and lbs/square inch as normal. "Ounces per square inch" are used to measure pressure and surface density (thickness) of thin materials like paper.[4] There are 16 oz/square inch in one lb/square inch, so you can convert by multiplying by 16 just like with normal ounces and pounds.

* This is also true for ounces and pounds per cubic inch — just multiply by 16 like normal.

How to Convert Pounds to Ounces in Excel

Convert between pounds and ounces

Convert between pounds and ounces

Select a blank cell next to your pounds data, and type this formula =CONVERT(A2,"lbm","ozm") into it, and press Enter key, then drag the autofill handle down to the range cells you need.

Photo: extendoffice

Pounds to Ounces conversion table

Pounds (lb)	Ounces (oz)
0 lb	0 oz
0.1 lb	1.6 oz
1 lb	16 oz
2 lb	32 oz
3 lb	48 oz
4 lb	64 oz
5 lb	80 oz
6 lb	96 oz
7 lb	112 oz
8 lb	128 oz
9 lb	144 oz
10 lb	160 oz
20 lb	320 oz
30 lb	480 oz
40 lb	640 oz
50 lb	800 oz
60 lb	960 oz
70 lb	1120 oz
80 lb	1280 oz
90 lb	1440 oz
100 lb	1600 oz
1000 lb	16000 oz