Gold Weight Units: Ounce, Gram, Tola, Kilo and Gold Pound
A guide to gold weight units: the troy ounce is 31.1035 g, the tola 11.6638 g, plus the kilo and the gold pound, with a conversion table and worked examples.
By Editorial team6 min read
The world unit for pricing gold is the troy ounce, equal to 31.1035 grams, while Arab jewellers sell gold by the gram, the tola (about 11.6638 grams) is used in India, Pakistan and some Gulf markets, and the gold pound is used in Egypt (about 8 grams of 21K). Understanding these units and how to convert between them helps you compare the gold price today across markets without being misled by a change of unit.
The troy ounce: the language of the global market
When you hear that gold is "so many dollars an ounce", the troy ounce is meant, equal to 31.1035 grams. This unit is used to price gold, silver and platinum on global exchanges, and it normally refers to 24K gold.
Do not confuse it with the ordinary (avoirdupois) ounce, which is about 28.35 grams and is used to weigh food and everyday goods. The troy ounce is about 10% heavier, so using the wrong unit in a calculation gives a figure that is too high or too low. Gold is always weighed in troy ounces.
The gram: the most common unit in jewellers' shops
In Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the Levant and North Africa, the gold price is announced per gram by karat: 24K, 22K, 21K, 18K and so on. The gram is the easiest unit for comparison because it is a standard metric unit. If you want to know how the price differs from one karat to another, read the difference between gold karats.
The tola: a South Asian unit
The tola is an old unit that originated in South Asia and settled at about 11.6638 grams. It is still used in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and you will find it in the gold markets of Gulf countries where many members of the South Asian community work, with prices announced per tola alongside the gram. Interestingly, the tola equals about three eighths of a troy ounce (0.375), so its price is easy to work out from the ounce price.
Gold bars in these markets are often sold at 10 tola (about 116.638 grams), and in other sizes such as 1 tola and 5 tola. To see gold prices in a country that uses this unit, visit the gold price today in the UAE page.
The kilo: for large bars
A kilogram is 1,000 grams, or about 32.1507 troy ounces. Large gold bars trade in kilos between refiners, banks and big dealers; they are less common among individuals because of their high value. Individuals usually deal in bars from 1 to 100 grams or a single ounce.
The gold pound: a unit and a coin at once
In Egypt, the gold pound is a gold coin weighing about 8 grams of 21K, so it contains roughly 7 grams of pure gold (8 × 0.875). There are also a half pound (about 4 grams) and a quarter pound (about 2 grams). These pieces are sold at the value of the pure gold in them plus a small margin, and they are among the most widespread forms of saving among families.
In some Gulf markets the foreign gold "pound" (the sovereign) is traded, weighing about 8 grams of 22K. The names are similar but the karat differs, so always check the weight and karat rather than the name alone.
Conversion table for gold weight units
| Unit | In grams | In troy ounces |
|---|---|---|
| Troy ounce | 31.1035 | 1 |
| Tola | 11.6638 | 0.375 |
| 10-tola bar | 116.638 | 3.75 |
| Egyptian gold pound (21K) | about 8 | about 0.257 |
| Kilogram | 1,000 | 32.1507 |
| 100 g bar | 100 | 3.2151 |
| Ordinary ounce (for comparison only) | 28.3495 | 0.9115 |
Worked example: from the ounce price to the gram and the tola
For example, if the price of an ounce of gold is $2,000 (an illustrative figure, not today's price):
- 24K price per gram = 2,000 ÷ 31.1035 ≈ $64.30.
- 24K price per tola = 2,000 × 0.375 = about $750.
- 24K price per kilo = 2,000 × 32.1507 ≈ $64,301.
To convert to another karat, multiply the 24K price per gram by karat ÷ 24. A gram of 21K in the example above = 64.30 × 21 ÷ 24 ≈ $56.26.
Another example, for the gold pound: if the 24K price per gram is 4,800 Egyptian pounds (also illustrative), a gram of 21K = 4,800 × 21 ÷ 24 = 4,200 EGP, and the gold pound (8 grams) = 8 × 4,200 = 33,600 EGP in gold value alone, the half pound is 16,800 EGP and the quarter pound 8,400 EGP. Check it another way: 7 grams of pure gold × 4,800 = 33,600 EGP, the same result.
When buying from a shop, the making charge and the dealer's margin are added to these figures, and when selling the price is a little lower. For quick calculations you can use the gold calculator instead of working by hand.
How do you read a price advertisement without confusion?
Before comparing any two prices, ask yourself four simple questions. Which unit is used: gram, tola or ounce? Which karat: 24, 21 or 22? Which currency: dollars or local currency? And is the price for the raw gold only, or does it include the making charge and any taxes? If the two prices match on all four answers, the comparison is fair; otherwise convert both to a 24K gram price in the same currency first, then compare.
Who uses which unit?
| Unit | Where it is usually used |
|---|---|
| Troy ounce | Global exchanges and international pricing; small investment bars and coins |
| Gram | Jewellers' shops in Egypt, the Gulf, the Levant, North Africa and Türkiye |
| Tola | India, Pakistan and South Asian community markets in the Gulf |
| Kilogram | Refiners, banks and big dealers |
| Gold pound | Egypt and some Gulf and Levant markets |
Common questions: how many tola are in 100 grams? The answer is 100 ÷ 11.6638 ≈ 8.57 tola. How many grams are in five tola? 5 × 11.6638 ≈ 58.32 grams. And if you want the number of ounces in 100 grams, divide by 31.1035 to get about 3.215 ounces.
Common mistakes when comparing prices
- Mixing the troy ounce with the ordinary ounce. When converting an ounce price to grams, use 31.1035, not 28.35.
- Forgetting the karat. The global ounce price is for 24K, so do not compare it directly with a gram price of 21K without multiplying by 21 ÷ 24.
- Comparing total weight with pure-gold weight. An 18K piece weighing 10 grams contains only 7.5 grams of pure gold.
- Ignoring the pricing currency. The global price is in dollars, and the local price is affected by the exchange rate and the local market.
- Relying on the name alone. "Pound" or "tola" can mean slightly different things from one market to another, so ask for the weight in grams.
For updated prices see the gold prices today in Egypt and other countries, and remember that displayed prices are indicative and may differ from shop to shop. The information here is general and educational, not a recommendation to buy or sell.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams are in an ounce of gold?
The troy ounce used to price gold worldwide equals 31.1035 grams. It differs from the ordinary ounce used for food and other goods, which is about 28.35 grams.
How many grams are in a tola?
The tola is a traditional unit in India, Pakistan and some Gulf markets, and equals about 11.6638 grams, which is roughly three eighths of a troy ounce (0.375 oz).
How much does the Egyptian gold pound weigh?
The Egyptian gold pound weighs about 8 grams of 21K, which is roughly 7 grams of pure gold. There are also a half pound (4 grams) and a quarter pound (2 grams).
How do I convert the dollar price of an ounce of gold into a price per gram?
Divide the dollar price of the ounce by 31.1035 to get the 24K price per gram in dollars, then multiply by the exchange rate for the local currency, and by karat ÷ 24 if you want another karat.
