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.

Counsel.day · the numbers say you can. Should you? Sealed daily votes, one verdict · first Solo decision free
Standard conversion  Based on the International Yard and Pound Agreement (1959): 1 lb = 453.59237 g exactly.

1. Enter Weight in Pounds

lb

2. Common Presets

Conversion Result

Grams
453.59
g
Kilograms
0.4536
kg
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:

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 lb113 gQuarter-pound burger patty
0.5 lb227 gSmall piece of meat or fish
1 lb454 gStandard US butter package
2 lb907 gRoughly 1 kg (close substitute)
2.2 lb998 gApproximately 1 kg
5 lb2,268 gBag 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

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.