Convert ounces to pounds

Ounce

What Is an Ounce?

An ounce (symbol: oz) is a mass unit in the British Imperial and U.S. customary measurement systems. The modern “avoirdupois” ounce is precisely 28.349523125 g, which is exactly one-sixteenth of an avoirdupois pound.

Origins

The word “ounce” comes from the Latin uncia, meaning “twelfth part.” In ancient Rome, a standard copper bar defining the pound and foot was split into twelve unciae. Over time, regional variants of the ounce appeared (for example, Dutch ≈100 g, French ≈30.59 g, Spanish ≈28.75 g) until the international avoirdupois ounce was fixed in 1959.

Where It’s Used Today

Ounces remain the go-to unit in the United States for food packaging, portion sizes, postal rates, and more. While the U.K. has officially gone metric, you’ll still see ounces on some menus, in recipes, and in specialty retail contexts.

Pound

What Is a Pound?

A pound (symbol: lb) is a standard mass unit in both the Imperial and U.S. customary systems. The international avoirdupois pound is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kg and breaks down into 16 avoirdupois ounces.

Origins

Tracing back to the Roman libra, the pound saw many local definitions until the 13th century when the avoirdupois system standardized it as 16 ounces—chosen because 16 divides neatly by 2, 4, and 8. That definition was internationally ratified in 1959.

Where It’s Used Today

In the U.S., pounds are ubiquitous for body weight, groceries, and general commerce. In the U.K., metric units prevail officially, but pounds still appear on packaged goods and alongside stones (1 stone = 14 lb) when reporting personal weight.

Ounce → Pound Conversion Table

How to Convert

• 1 oz = 0.0625 lb

• 1 lb = 16 oz

Example

To convert 15 oz into pounds:

15 oz × 0.0625 = 0.9375 lb