Measurements · 4 min read
How to read a weed scale
What the numbers and buttons on a small digital scale mean — grams, tare, the unit button and how precise it needs to be.
A small digital pocket scale shows weight in grams to two decimal places, so 3.50 means three and a half grams. The buttons do three jobs: turn it on, tare (zero it), and mode (change the unit).
Tare: zeroing out the container
Put your empty container on the scale and press TARE (sometimes ZERO). The display drops to 0.00, so whatever you add next is weighed on its own. Forget to tare and you are weighing the jar too.
The units on the mode button
- g — grams. The one to use; cannabis is labelled in grams.
- oz — ounces (28.35 g). An eighth shows as 0.12 or 0.125.
- ozt — troy ounces (31.1 g), used for metals. Easy to confuse with oz.
- ct — carats. 1 ct is 0.2 g, so 3.5 g reads 17.5 ct.
- dwt — pennyweight, about 1.56 g.
- gn — grains, about 0.065 g.
If the number looks wrong, check the unit before anything else — a scale left on ct or dwt is the usual culprit.
How precise does it need to be?
For flower, a scale that reads to 0.01 g is plenty; 0.1 g is fine for larger amounts. Check it now and then with a known weight — many pocket scales come with a calibration weight, and a US nickel weighs 5.00 g.
Do I need to weigh what I buy?
No. Licensed New York products are weighed and sealed before they reach the shelf, and the net weight in grams is printed on the label. A scale is for curiosity — or for the scale game on the measurements guide.
Convert it
Quick converter
3.5 g is an eighth of an ounce.
That is 1 eighth, half a quarter, or 0.125 oz.
Each jar is one eighth (3.5 g). The trade rounds an ounce to 28 g; strictly it is 28.35 g. New York's adult possession limit is three ounces of flower.
Test yourself
Scale school: 4 quick questions
Question 1 of 4
What does the TARE button do?
Tare drops the display to 0.00 so you weigh only what you add, not the jar.
You put an eighth on and the scale reads 17.50. Which unit is it on?
Carats: 1 ct is 0.2 g, so 3.5 g reads 17.5 ct.
What does a US nickel weigh - handy for checking a scale?
A nickel is 5.00 grams, a free known weight in your pocket.
How precise does a scale need to be for flower?
Two decimal places is plenty; 0.1 g is fine for larger amounts.
Common questions
- How do you read a weed scale?
- A pocket digital scale shows grams to two decimal places, so 3.50 means three and a half grams. Make sure the unit reads g, and press tare with your empty container on the scale before adding anything.
- What does tare mean on a scale?
- Tare sets the display back to zero with a container on the scale, so you weigh only what you put in it rather than the container as well.
- What does ct mean on a scale?
- Carats. One carat is 0.2 grams, so 3.5 grams reads as 17.5 ct. If a reading looks five times too big, the scale is probably set to ct.
- How accurate does a scale need to be for weed?
- A scale that reads to 0.01 grams is plenty for flower. Check it occasionally with a known weight; a US nickel weighs 5.00 grams.
More on weights and sizes
- Weed measurements: grams, eighths, quarters and ounces What an eighth actually weighs, how the sizes convert and what each size looks like — plus a scale you can play with.
- Eighth vs quarter: what comes after an eighth? A quarter comes after an eighth: 7 grams against 3.5. Here is how the two compare, side by side, with a converter to check any weight.
- 3.5 grams explained: 3.5g to oz, and why it is called an eighth 3.5 grams is 0.125 ounces — one eighth of an ounce, which is where the name comes from. Here is the maths, and a converter for any other weight.
- Is 14g a half ounce? A half ounce in grams Yes — a half ounce is 14 grams. Here is how it breaks down into eighths and quarters, and why you will sometimes see 14.17.
- What does an ounce of weed look like — and how much is it? An ounce is 28 grams — eight eighths. What it looks like depends on the strain, so here is how to picture it, and what it is on our shelf today.
Keep reading
- THC vs CBD — what the difference actually is Two cannabinoids from the same plant that do very different things. What each one is, why products list a ratio and how to read the label.
- New to cannabis? Start here A calm, jargon-free walkthrough for your very first visit — what to bring, how it’s sold and how to pick something you’ll actually enjoy.
- Indica vs. Sativa vs. Hybrid — and why we sort by feel instead The indica/sativa split is a useful starting point, but it isn’t the whole story. Here’s what the labels mean and why we organize the menu around the effect you want.
- Edibles dosing: start low, go slow Edibles are easy to love and easy to overdo. Here’s how dosing works, why they take so long to kick in and a simple plan for a comfortable experience.
Ready to browse?
Open seven days a week on Route 13 in Dryden, between Ithaca and Cortland. Walk in, order ahead for pick-up, use the drive-thru or have it delivered.