Weed Measurements: Grams, Eighths, Ounces and Bulk Pricing

By James Buddsey · Updated October 16, 2026

Weed is sold by weight: a gram, an eighth (3.5 grams), a quarter (7 grams), a half (14 grams) and an ounce (28 grams). Larger amounts almost always cost less per gram, so buying in bulk does save money, as long as you can store it well, stay within your state’s possession limit and actually use it before it goes stale.

Back in 2011 we wrote a short piece we called “the Cannabis Costco concept”: stop buying one gram at a time and split bigger amounts with friends. The math still works, though legal stores have changed how people buy. Here is a clear guide to the measurements, how pricing scales and when bulk is worth it.

Weed Measurements Chart

An avoirdupois ounce is technically 28.35 grams, but the cannabis trade rounds to 28, and many stores round an eighth to 3.5 grams. Legal products list the exact net weight on the label.

How Big Is an Eighth?

It depends on density. An eighth of dense, tight buds might be a few small nugs that fit in a closed palm; airy, fluffy flower of the same weight looks much larger. That is why weight, not size, is the only fair measure. A gram typically rolls one standard joint, so an eighth is roughly three to four joints and an ounce is roughly 28 or more, depending on how you roll.

How Pricing Scales

Prices vary by state, store, quality and season, so treat the numbers below as an example of how tiered pricing works, not a price list. They show the same basic logic our 2011 post used.

In this example, someone who uses about 10 grams a month would pay $100 buying by the gram and closer to $64 at the ounce rate. Check whether a store’s shelf price includes tax. Washington adds a 37 percent cannabis excise tax plus sales tax, and Oregon adds a 17 percent state tax plus up to 3 percent local tax. Our Washington and Oregon dispensary directories list stores near you.

Does Buying in Bulk Actually Save Money?

When it makes sense

• You use cannabis regularly and know a strain you like.
• You can store it in airtight glass, away from light and heat, so it stays fresh for months.
• You are splitting a larger amount with other adults, the original “Costco” idea, so each person gets the lower rate.
• The store offers a real per-gram discount on full flower, not just shake.

When it does not

• You use it occasionally. Flower slowly loses terpenes and moisture, and THC degrades over time. Stale weed is not a bargain.
• You want variety. An ounce of one strain can get old fast.
• The deal is lower quality. Cheap ounces are often “smalls,” shake or older stock. That can be fine for cannabutter or pre-rolls, but compare like with like.
• It pushes you to use more. Having a lot on hand can raise how much people consume. If tolerance creeps up, the savings vanish.

Legal Limits on How Much You Can Buy

In Washington, adults 21+ may buy and possess up to 1 ounce of flower, 7 grams of concentrate, 16 ounces of solid edibles and 72 ounces of liquids. In Oregon, adults may buy up to 2 ounces of flower a day, carry 2 ounces in public and keep 8 ounces at home. Buying an ounce in Washington is the maximum; going straight back for a second one is not allowed.

Splitting a purchase among friends is legal only as sharing, with no money changing hands for resale. Selling cannabis without a license, even to friends at cost, is a crime in both states.

Other Measurements: Concentrates and Edibles

Concentrates such as wax, shatter and vape oil are sold by the gram or half gram, and a gram of concentrate is far stronger than a gram of flower. Edibles are measured in milligrams of THC, not weight: a standard serving in Washington and Oregon is 10 mg, while a starting dose for new users is often 2.5 to 5 mg. See our cannabis dosage guide for details.

Weed Measurements FAQ

For adults 21+ in legal states. General information, not medical advice.