Weed Measurements: Weights, Quantities, And Prices Explained

For a handful of Americans, the only time they’ll ever use the metric system is when measuring weed. Unfamiliar with it? Don’t fret.

Whether you’re new to cannabis or just want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth, understanding weed measurements is essential for a proper buying experience.

If you really want to buy weed like a pro, being informed is your best bet. What if a budtender hands you a quarter instead of a half o? After all, it’s on you to know the quantities of what’s in your stash.

This guide breaks down every common cannabis measurement, from grams to pounds, covering what each amount looks like, how long it might last, and what you can expect to pay.

Weed is measured using a mix of metric system (grams) and imperial system (ounces, pounds), but grams are typically used as the base unit for cannabis measurements.

Legal cannabis is weighed, labeled, and sold in grams by the brands supplying dispensaries, making it the most common measurement in the legal market. On the street market, while grams are sometimes used, you’re more likely to hear terms like eighths, quarters, and ounces—a holdover from the pre-legalization era.

Common Weed Measurements and Conversions:

• Gram (g): The base unit of measurement for cannabis
• 1 Eighth (⅛ oz) = 3.5 grams
• 1 Quarter (¼ oz) = 7 grams
• 1 Half (½ oz) = 14 grams
• 1 Ounce (oz) = 28 grams
• 1 Quarter Pound (¼ lb, “QP”) = 112 grams
• 1 Half Pound (½ lb, “HP”) = 224 grams
• 1 Pound (lb) = 453 grams (16 ounces)

All users should be familiar with these basic units of weed measurements in the cannabis industry to make sure you’re always getting the amount you’re paying for.

If you don’t know how much an eighth, a quarter, or an ounce should weigh, it’s easy to get shorted—especially on the street, where a dealer might try to pass off 3 grams as an eighth instead of the standard 3.5.

Even in the legal dispensary era, knowing your weight helps you spot a good deal, avoid overpaying, and compare pricing between brands and shops.

You may have also heard cannabis slang like quad, half-zip, and zip when referring to different weed measurements. In our full breakdown below, we cover how much cannabis each of these terms refers to, along with the average price and size comparisons of the most common weed measurements.

What Is It?: A gram is the smallest amount of cannabis typically measured and sold. You’ll usually get 1-4 bowls or a couple of joints with it, depending on how much is packed and loaded.

Common Slang Terms: G, single, dime.

Size Comparison: A gram of weed is often one or two nugs about the size of a grape or a couple of Hershey’s Kisses.

Average Cost: $8-15 per gram, with top-shelf cannabis strains potentially costing more. A general rule of thumb is $10 per gram, with prices fluctuating depending on quality, location, and whether you’re buying from a legal dispensary or other sources.

Perfect For: First-time users, trying new strains, or occasional smokers who don’t need to keep a whole stash on hand.

What Is It?: An eighth is a 1/8 of an ounce, which equals 3.5 grams. This is one of the most common quantities purchased by regular cannabis consumers. You’ll get roughly 3-7 joints or pack 5-10 bowls, depending on how much you use per session.

Common Slang Terms: Cut, half-quarter, slice.

Size Comparison: A good handful of weed. It’s usually about 3-4 nugs, totaling to the size of a clementine.

Average Cost: $25-55, with prices varying based on quality and location. Legal states often have better prices due to competition and lack of legal risk.

Perfect For: Regular users who consume a few times a week. A solo stash for a weekend getaway.

What Is It?: A quarter is a 1/4 of an ounce, equaling 7 grams (or two eighths). With this, you’re looking at roughly 7-14 joints or 10-20 bowls. For a moderate user, a quarter or seven grams can easily last a couple of weeks.

Common Slang Terms: Quad, Q, quarter-piece, quarter-ounce, seven.

Size Comparison: You’ll be able to hold it with two hands—about the size of a baseball.

Average Cost: $50-100 depending on quality and location. Buying a quarter ounce instead of two separate eighths will typically save you some money, especially when taxes come into play.

Perfect For: Regular users who know what strain they like and want to reduce how often they need to re-up.

What Is It?: Half an ounce is exactly what it sounds like—half of an ounce or 14 grams of weed. You could roll approximately 14-28 joints or pack 20-40 bowls. For the average user, a half ounce of weed could last about a month.

Common Slang Terms: Half-O, half-zip, half.

Size Comparison: You’ll definitely need a bag to hold these nugs, with their size roughly compared to a large pomegranate or orange.

Average Cost: $90-180, with the price-per-gram decreasing as you buy in larger quantities. The savings compared to buying smaller amounts can be huge.

Perfect For: Dedicated consumers who use weed regularly and want to minimize trips to the dispensary while saving money.

What Is It?: An ounce of weed equals 28 grams, which is also the legal possession limit in many states with recreational cannabis. This is a lot of weed—enough for about 28-56 joints or 40-80 bowls. Even for heavy users, an ounce typically lasts a month or more.

Common Slang Terms: Zip, O, onion.

Size Comparison: An ounce of weed definitely takes up some space, often the size of a small cabbage or coconut.

Average Cost: $150-$350, with impressive savings per gram compared to smaller quantities. Just expect higher-quality strains to sell for higher prices, especially in expensive markets.

Perfect For: Heavy users, medical patients who rely on it, or those who prefer to stock up and save money in the long run.

What Is It?: A pound equals 453 grams or 16 ounces. This quantity usually exceeds legal possession limits for individuals in most states, even recreational ones. Dispensaries and manufacturers often handle it.

Common Slang Terms: Elbow, pack, bow.

Size Comparison: A pound of weed is honestly an enormous amount, about the size of a watermelon.

Average Cost: $1,600-4,000, depending on quality, location, and market. At this size, the price per gram drops significantly.

Perfect For: This quantity typically falls into commercial territory. It’s not really relevant for individual consumers.

Before dispensaries, buying weed was based on price, not weight. Instead of asking for a specific number of grams, people used slang terms like dime bag and dub sack, which referred to how much weed you could get for a set price.

Dime Bag: A dime bag was usually $10 worth of cannabis, roughly 0.5-1g.

Dub Sack: A “dub” refers to $20 worth of cannabis, which would be about 1-2 grams.

These price-based measurements have become less common since cannabis legalization across many states. Still, you might hear dime bag or dub sack occasionally, especially in regions where cannabis is still illegal, or in casual conversations among longtime consumers.

Wondering how much weed you should buy to roll a couple of joints? What about a few bowls for the weekend? Understanding these quantities in terms of consumption methods can help you determine how much to purchase.

In Joints:

• 1 Gram: 1-2 joints
• Eighth (3.5g): 3-7 joints
• Quarter (7g): 7-14 joints
• Half Ounce (14g): 14-28 joints
• Full Ounce (28g): 28-56 joints

In Bowls (For Pipes and Bongs):

• 1 Gram: 2-3 bowls
• Eighth (3.5g): 5-10 bowls
• Quarter (7g): 10-20 bowls
• Half Ounce (14g): 20-40 bowls
• Full Ounce (28g): 40-80 bowls

Keep in mind that these are rough estimates, as joint size and bowl packing vary from person to person. Factors like how tightly you pack your bowls or how thick you roll your joints will affect these numbers and the different quantities.

Similar to how cannabis strains are not created equal, neither are cannabis prices. The amount of money you’ll pay for weed varies dramatically across the United States.

Since weed is still illegal under federal law, states are left to make their own rules and taxes regarding cannabis. Here are just a few factors that influence how much you’ll pay for weed:

• Legality: The riskier it is to sell, the higher the price. Legal states have lower prices due to reduced risk and increased competition.
• Taxation: Some legal states have beefy taxes that drive up prices.
• Supply: States with more growers and dispensaries usually have lower prices.
• Quality: The higher the quality, the higher the price point. That means premium, high-THC, and specialty strains are usually sold for more than mid-to-high-quality strains.

Here’s a general breakdown of what you might expect to pay for an eighth (3.5g) of mid-to-high-quality weed in different regions:

Price Range: $20-45

Notes: These markets have been running legally for years. Since they’re quite mature, with well-established dispensaries, manufacturers, and cultivation sites, they have some of the lowest prices in the country. Specifically, Oregon has incredible prices.

Price Range: $25-50

Notes: Like Washington, Colorado was one of the first states to legalize recreational weed. So, it has pretty low prices. Nevada’s prices are higher due to tourism and limited cultivation in the surrounding area.

Price Range: $40-65

Notes: Newer legal markets will have higher prices as the market develops and establishes itself. Illinois has particularly high prices, thanks to limited licenses and heavy taxes.

Price Range: $45-65

Notes: Here, there’s not a ton of room for cultivation, nor is the outdoor environment favorable for year-round grows. That, along with newer markets, contributes to higher prices.

Price Range: $35-60 (medical) / $45-70 (illicit market)

Notes: With fewer fully legal states, prices tend to be higher, especially for quality product.

Price Range: Varies greatly, typically $30-60 for an eighth

Notes: You never truly know how much you’ll pay for an eighth of weed in non-legal states since you’re buying from illicit sources. Prices depend on the product, location, risk, and even the source.

Above, we mentioned how buying weed in larger quantities often saves money. It’s kind of like buying in bulk. The more you buy, the more you save.

That’s undoubtedly one of the main benefits of buying cannabis in larger quantities. For more on that, here’s how the price per gram generally scales as you buy more:

• One Gram: $10-15/gram (no discount)
• Eighth (3.5g): $8-12/gram (15-20% savings)
• Quarter (7g): $7-11/gram (25-30% savings)
• Half Ounce (14g): $6-9/gram (35-45% savings)
• Ounce (28g): $5-8/gram (45-55% savings)

Again, these are estimates. But it’s pretty easy to tell that buying more weed often results in higher savings in the long run. Most dispensaries also offer daily deals, happy hours, or loyalty programs that’ll help you save money weed even more.

It’s no secret that weed strains are priced differently. But it’s not just THC content and terpene profile that determines how much weed costs. Several factors, even ones you wouldn’t even consider, go into how much you’ll pay for cannabis. Here are some, to name a few:

This one’s pretty obvious. Strains jam-packed with THC will go for a higher price since there’s more of the active ingredient to produce stronger effects.

Aside from THC content, you’ll often see designer strains, rare cultivars, and cannabis cup winners priced at a pretty penny.

Many consumers prefer indoor-grown strains for their stunning appearance, controlled environment, and lack of potential threats like pests and severe weather.

Because of that (and higher production costs), indoor strains usually sell for higher prices than outdoor and greenhouse-grown ones.

Organic produce at the grocery store sells for more than its non-organic counterparts. It’s the same with cannabis. Flower grown without pesticides or with organic methods usually go for a higher price.

Brands often make note of when their flower is carefully cured and hand-trimmed. They do so for a couple of reasons. One, you’ll know the care and quality behind the scenes. Two, you’ll understand why you’re paying more than machine-trimmed or rush-processed cannabis.

There are a few premium names around the weed world. Brands with celebrities behind them or well-established legacy brands with reputable products can charge more for their goods.

Another golden rule to remember is that newer legal markets often have higher prices due to a lack of competition. Once the market matures and establishes more competition, prices usually decrease.

If you’re still here, you’re likely looking for the best possible way to increase your savings as a stoner. With these tips below, you’re sure to save a few bucks on each dispensary pickup. Here are a few suggestions for weed users looking to maximize their cannabis budgets:

Buy In Bigger Quantities

This is especially great for seasoned and frequent users. There’s nothing worse than running out of weed earlier than expected. If that’s your case, it sounds like it’s time to buy in larger quantities. Plus, you’ll save money and time in the long run.

Look For Dispensary Deals

Many shops have daily specials or happy hours. If you’re a frequent customer at a local dispensary, ask your budtender for any deals and discounts going on.

Join Loyalty Programs

Just like daily deals, many dispensaries also have loyalty programs that let you save as a member. You might even rack up points to redeem them for a discount on your next order.

Consider Mid-Shelf Options

You don’t have to buy premium strains every single time. That’s one way to drain your bank account. Mid-shelf options are incredibly reliable and provide pretty good value at a more average price point.

Ask Budtenders

If you really want to tailor your cannabis shopping experience, ask your budtender for recommendations in your price range. They’ll point you towards the best value bud on their menu.

Now that you’re familiar with the basics, you’ll know exactly how much cannabis to expect with each purchase—whether you’re buying from a dispensary budtender or a street dealer.

Expect dispensaries to stick with grams and ounces, while your local plug might talk in eighths and quarters—or go full slang with half-zips and O’s. Either way, knowledge is power, and now you won’t have to nod along when someone mentions a quad—you’ll actually know what they mean.