Troy Ounces vs Ounces: What Precious Metal Quotes Mean
The troy ounce is the standard unit for precious metals. It is about 10% heavier than the ounce used for food and parcels.
Published by the Heartline Works team · Last reviewed 2026-10-02 · Editorial policy
| Unit | Grams |
|---|---|
| Troy ounce (ozt) | 31.1034768 |
| Avoirdupois ounce (oz) | 28.349523125 |
| Pennyweight (dwt) | 1.55517384 (1/20 troy ounce) |
| Grain | 0.06479891 |
Ratio: 1 troy ounce ≈ 1.09714 avoirdupois ounces. A troy pound has 12 troy ounces (373.24 g); the everyday pound has 16 ounces (453.59 g).
Why it still matters
Using the wrong ounce is a 9.7% error. When you read “gold is X per ounce”, it is per troy ounce unless stated otherwise.
Try the tools
- Weight & Unit Converter — Grams, tola, masha, ratti, troy ounce, pennyweight, carat and more.
- Gold Price Calculator — Gold price per gram, 10 grams, tola, troy ounce and kilogram for any karat, in your currency.
Frequently asked questions
Is a troy ounce heavier?
Yes: 31.1035 g vs 28.3495 g.