16 ounces to the pound, exactly
ounces = pounds × 16, pounds = ounces ÷ 16
The everyday (avoirdupois) pound is defined as exactly 16 ounces, so converting is just multiply or divide by 16. For a mixed weight, work in total ounces: 5 lb 8 oz is (5 × 16) + 8 = 88 oz.
Pounds to ounces at a glance
| Pounds | Ounces |
|---|---|
| 1 lb | 16 oz |
| 2 lb | 32 oz |
| 3 lb | 48 oz |
| 5 lb | 80 oz |
| 7 lb | 112 oz |
| 10 lb | 160 oz |
| 12 lb | 192 oz |
| 15 lb | 240 oz |
| 20 lb | 320 oz |
To go back to pounds and ounces, divide by 16: the whole number is pounds and the remainder is ounces. 88 ÷ 16 = 5 remainder 8, so 5 lb 8 oz.
Two things people get wrong
- 3 lb 8 oz is not 3.8 lb. It is 3.5 lb, because 8 oz is half of 16. Ounces count in sixteenths, not tenths — the same trap that makes baby weights like 7 lb 3 oz easy to mis-enter.
- Weight ounces are not fluid ounces. The ounce here measures mass; a fluid ounce measures volume. They share a name but are different units.
- Troy ounces are heavier. Gold and silver use the troy ounce (31.1 g), about 10% heavier than the everyday ounce (28.35 g), and a troy pound has only 12 of them.
Common questions
How many ounces are in a pound?
Exactly 16 ounces make one pound in the everyday avoirdupois system used in the US. This applies to weight ounces, not fluid ounces.
What is 5 pounds 8 ounces in decimal pounds?
It is 5.5 pounds, not 5.8. Ounces are sixteenths of a pound, so 8 oz is 8 divided by 16, which is 0.5.
How do I turn pounds and ounces into total ounces?
Multiply the pounds by 16 and add the ounces. For example, 5 lb 8 oz is 5 times 16 plus 8, which is 88 ounces.
