lbs to Pounds Converter — Avoirdupois, Troy & Metric Pounds
Convert avoirdupois pounds (everyday lbs) to troy pounds (precious metals) and metric pounds (500 g). Understand why "a pound" means different things in different contexts.
lb
Troy pounds are used for precious metals: 1 troy lb = 373.24 g (lighter than 1 avdp lb = 453.59 g)
- 1
Convert to grams
1 × 453.59237 = 453.59241 avoirdupois lb = 453.59237 g (exact). - 2
Troy pounds
453.5924 ÷ 373.2417216 = 1.2152781 troy lb = 373.2417216 g (exact).
How does this calculator work?
The avoirdupois pound (everyday "lbs") = 453.59 g; troy pound (precious metals) = 373.24 g; metric pound = 500 g. To convert: multiply pounds by the gram-per-avdp-lb factor and divide by the target system gram factor. 1 avdp lb ≈ 1.215 troy lb ≈ 0.907 metric lb. 1 troy lb = 12 troy oz.
Formula
How this is calculated
The word "pound" refers to three different units depending on the context. The avoirdupois pound — the common "lbs" in everyday shopping, body weight and US/UK commerce — equals exactly 453.59237 grams and is divided into 16 ounces. The troy pound, used internationally for gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals, equals 373.2417216 grams and is divided into 12 troy ounces (each 31.10 g). The metric pound, used informally in Germany, Czech Republic and some other Central European countries, is defined as exactly 500 grams.
To convert between pound systems, the calculator converts the avoirdupois input to grams first (using the exact 1959 definition), then divides by the target pound's gram equivalent. The grain (gr) is the only sub-unit shared between systems: there are exactly 7,000 grains per avoirdupois pound and exactly 5,760 grains per troy pound, making grains a useful bridge between the two.
A common surprise: the avoirdupois pound (453.6 g) is heavier than the troy pound (373.2 g). So "a pound of gold" sold by troy weight is actually lighter than "a pound of flour" sold by avoirdupois weight — the troy pound has a smaller gram value. The metric pound (500 g) is the heaviest of the three.
Frequently asked questions
1 avoirdupois pound (453.59 g) is heavier than 1 troy pound (373.24 g). So if you buy 1 troy lb of gold, you receive less mass than 1 avdp lb of a grocery item. Many people are surprised that "a pound of gold" weighs less than "a pound of flour".
The troy system dates to medieval trade at the Troyes fair in France and has been the standard for gold and silver since at least the 15th century. It was formally adopted by the UK Mint in 1527. Today all precious-metals prices worldwide are quoted per troy ounce (ozt = 31.1034768 g).
The metric pound equals exactly 500 g (half a kilogram). It is not an official SI unit but is used colloquially in Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and other Central European countries — a "Pfund" of cheese in a German market is 500 g.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). lbs to Pounds Converter — Avoirdupois, Troy & Metric Pounds [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/lbs-to-pounds-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "lbs to Pounds Converter — Avoirdupois, Troy & Metric Pounds." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/lbs-to-pounds-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "lbs to Pounds Converter — Avoirdupois, Troy & Metric Pounds," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/lbs-to-pounds-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_lbs_to_pounds_calculator, title = {lbs to Pounds Converter — Avoirdupois, Troy & Metric Pounds}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/lbs-to-pounds-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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