How many grams are in a pound?

There are exactly 453.59237 grams in one pound (lb). This is the internationally agreed conversion factor under the International Yard and Pound Agreement of 1959. For most everyday purposes, rounding to 453.59 g or even 454 g is accurate enough.

How do I convert pounds to grams without a calculator?

Multiply the number of pounds by 454 for a quick approximation. For example, 2 lb is roughly 2 x 454 = 908 g. For a more precise result, multiply by 453.59. So 2 lb = 2 x 453.59 = 907.18 g. Using 454 is accurate to within 0.09 percent, which is fine for cooking and general use.

Is a pound the same in all countries?

The pound referred to in everyday use today is the avoirdupois pound, defined as exactly 453.59237 grams. This is the standard pound used in the United States, the United Kingdom, and throughout most of the world for general weighing. There are historical variants such as the troy pound (373.24 g, used for precious metals) and the apothecaries' pound, but when people say 'pound' for food, body weight, or general goods, they mean the avoirdupois pound.

Pounds to Grams Converter

This converter turns a weight in pounds (lb) into grams (g), the metric unit used on New Zealand recipes, parcel labels and most everyday scales. Type any weight into the pounds field, or pick a common value from the presets list such as half a pound, one pound, two and a half pounds or fifty pounds, and choose how many decimal places you want, from whole grams up to five decimal places for full precision. The calculator applies the exact conversion factor of 453.59237 grams per pound, agreed under the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement, so the result is precise rather than a rough estimate. Alongside the headline result in grams, you get the same weight shown in kilograms and ounces, a breakdown of the calculation used, and the equivalent in milligrams and metric tonnes. A quick-reference table below the results lists grams, kilograms and ounces for a range of common pound weights, handy when converting an American recipe, checking a parcel weight, or comparing body weight readings between imperial and metric scales. It suits cooking with US recipes that list butter, flour or meat in pounds, tracking weight recorded in pounds, and anyone working across imperial and metric units regularly. Because the conversion factor is a fixed, internationally agreed constant, the results are exact to the decimal places you choose.

Calculate.co.nz is proud to be partnered with Health Based Building, a leader in sustainable and health-conscious building innovation. With over a century of experience, they develop high-performance systems like Foreverbreathe Specification, Magnum Board, and Foreverbreathe Paints to support energy-efficient, non-toxic living environments. Their commitment to healthier homes aligns with our belief that informed choices lead to better outcomes for Kiwi households.

Calculate.co.nz partner: Health Based Building

Standard conversion Based on the International Yard and Pound Agreement (1959): 1 lb = 453.59237 g exactly.

1. Enter Weight in Pounds

Pounds (lb)

Decimal places in result

2. Common Presets

Quick select a common weight

Conversion Result

Grams
453.59
g

Kilograms

0.4536

Ounces

16.00

oz (avoirdupois)

Conversion Breakdown

Pounds entered1.00 lb

Conversion factor453.59237 g per lb

Calculation1.00 x 453.59237

Result in grams453.59 g

Also Expressed As

Milligrams (mg)453,592 mg

Kilograms (kg)0.45359 kg

Ounces (oz)16.00 oz

Metric tonnes0.000454 t

Result: 1.00 pound = 453.59 grams (0.4536 kg).

Quick Reference: Pounds to Grams

Pounds (lb)	Grams (g)	Kilograms (kg)	Ounces (oz)

How to Convert Pounds to Grams

To convert pounds to grams, multiply the number of pounds by 453.59237. This is the exact conversion factor established by the International Yard and Pound Agreement of 1959, which defined the pound as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms (and therefore exactly 453.59237 grams).

Formula: grams = pounds x 453.59237

Worked Example

Convert 1 pound to grams:

Grams = 1 x 453.59237 = 453.59 g (rounded to 2 decimal places)
Kilograms = 453.59237 / 1000 = 0.4536 kg
Ounces = 1 x 16 = 16.00 oz (there are exactly 16 ounces in a pound)

The Pound and Gram: Units Explained

The gram (g) is the base unit of mass in the metric system. One gram is one thousandth of a kilogram. Grams are used widely in cooking, science, and everyday measurement in New Zealand and most of the world.

The pound (lb) is the primary unit of mass in the imperial system, still widely used in the United States and in some contexts in the United Kingdom. The abbreviation "lb" comes from the Latin word libra. One pound is exactly 16 ounces.

Pounds and Grams in Cooking

Many recipes from the United States list ingredients in pounds or ounces. New Zealand recipes typically use grams. Here are some common cooking conversions:

Pounds (lb)	Grams (g)	Common use
0.25 lb	113 g	Quarter-pound burger patty
0.5 lb	227 g	Small piece of meat or fish
1 lb	454 g	Standard US butter package
2 lb	907 g	Roughly 1 kg (close substitute)
2.2 lb	998 g	Approximately 1 kg
5 lb	2,268 g	Bag of flour (US)

Body Weight: Pounds to Grams

Body weight is typically measured in kilograms in New Zealand and most countries, while the United States and some other countries use pounds. To convert your weight, divide pounds by 2.2046 to get kilograms, or multiply by 453.59237 to get grams. For example, 150 lb = 150 x 453.59237 = 68,039 g = 68.04 kg.

Related Calculators

Essential Calculators: all converters and tools in one place.
Grams to Pounds Converter: reverse the conversion from grams back to pounds.
Grams to Ounces Calculator: convert grams to ounces.
Ounce to kg Converter: convert ounces to kilograms.

Method and sources: Conversion factor 1 lb = 453.59237 g is defined by the International Yard and Pound Agreement (1959), adopted by the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Codified in the Weights and Measures Act (various jurisdictions) and referenced in NIST Special Publication 811.

This converter uses the exact avoirdupois pound. For troy pounds (used in precious metals), 1 troy pound = 373.24 g. For everyday goods, body weight, and cooking, use the avoirdupois pound as calculated above.