Ounces to pounds and ounces, the leftover shown clearly.

To turn ounces into pounds and ounces, divide by 16. The whole number is the pounds, and what is left over is the ounces. For 50 oz: 50 ÷ 16 = 3 with 2 left over, because 3 × 16 = 48. So 50 oz is 3 lb 2 oz. This differs from the decimal answer of 3.125 lb, which is the same weight written as one number.

How to use the converter

1. Type the weight in the Ounces (oz) box. A decimal such as 3.5 works.
2. The big result shows whole pounds and ounces. The two boxes on the right fill in as well.
3. Type in the Pounds (lb) and Ounces (oz) boxes to go the other way. 3 lb 2 oz gives 50 oz in the left box.
4. Ounces shown as sets how the ounces are rounded: whole, 1 or 2 decimals, or the nearest 1/4, 1/8 or 1/16 ounce. A result that rounds to 16 oz moves up into the pounds.
5. The numbered lines under the result show the sum step by step. Copy result, Copy link, Copy table and Print chart keep the answer. Start again resets the box.

Division with a remainder

This is the same as long division. Take 100 oz. 16 goes into 100 six times (6 × 16 = 96), and 100 − 96 = 4. So 100 oz is 6 lb 4 oz. Take 250 oz. 16 × 15 = 240 and 250 − 240 = 10, so 15 lb 10 oz. The remainder is always less than 16. If you get 16 or more, you can take one more pound out of it. NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C gives the relation as "16 ounces = 1 pound" (checked 24 Oct 2026).

Worked examples

• 52 oz. 52 ÷ 16 = 3 r 4, so 3 lb 4 oz.
• 15 oz. Less than a pound: 15 oz. The pounds part is 0.
• 17 oz. 17 − 16 = 1, so 1 lb 1 oz.
• 99.5 oz. A half ounce is fine. 99.5 − 96 = 3.5, so 6 lb 3.5 oz.
• 1,000 oz. 1,000 ÷ 16 = 62 r 8, so 62 lb 8 oz.
• Back to ounces. 4 lb 11 oz is 4 × 16 + 11 = 75 oz. Type 4 and 11 in the right-hand boxes.

Adding two weights in pounds and ounces

Add the pounds, add the ounces, then carry. For 3 lb 9 oz + 2 lb 12 oz, pounds make 5 and ounces make 21. Since 21 is more than 16, move one pound across: 6 lb and 5 oz. To check, convert both to ounces: 57 + 44 = 101 oz, and 101 ÷ 16 = 6 r 5. Type 101 above and read 6 lb 5 oz.

Taking one weight from another

For 5 lb 3 oz minus 2 lb 11 oz, you cannot take 11 ounces from 3, so borrow a pound: 4 lb 19 oz minus 2 lb 11 oz is 2 lb 8 oz. In ounces it is 83 − 43 = 40 oz, and 2 lb 8 oz agrees. The easiest route is to use ounces for the sum and this page for the answer.

Pounds and ounces, or one decimal?

The mixed form is easier to read off a kitchen or postal scale, and the decimal form is better for a spreadsheet. They name the same weight, and mixing them up is the mistake to avoid. 3.125 lb does not mean 3 lb 25 oz, and 3 lb 2 oz is not 3.2 lb. The two ounces make 0.125 lb, so the decimal is 3.125 lb. If you need the decimal pound number, see Ounces to pounds.

Ounces of weight only

These are weight ounces. A fluid ounce is a unit of volume, and a pound is not made of 16 fluid ounces unless the liquid happens to weigh one ounce per fluid ounce. Gold and silver use troy ounces, which are heavier than the ounces here, so this page does not apply to them. For weight in grams see Ounces to grams and Grams to ounces. The kg way is Kg to pounds and ounces.

Mistakes to avoid

The first is dividing by 10 or 12. A pound is 16 ounces, not 10 and not 12 (12 is the troy pound). The second is forgetting the remainder and giving only the pounds. The third is writing a remainder of 16 or more. When the ounces you type are fractions, choose Ounces shown as to set the rounding.