A gram is a common unit of measurement, particularly in the science and medical fields, but a single gram is actually surprisingly light.
Learning about some common items that weigh roughly a gram can help you get a better feel for the weight, which can help you estimate what larger items weigh in grams.
A Dollar Bill
Any United States dollar note, whether it’s a one-dollar bill or a 100-dollar bill, weighs right around 1 gram.
Dollar bills in the United States are actually made of a special blend of cotton and linen, so dollars aren’t really paper.
This blend of fabrics is lightweight but durable, giving the note its 1 gram weight.
Thinking of how it feels to hold a dollar bill can help you imagine the weight of 1 gram.
A Quarter Teaspoon of Sugar
One-quarter of a teaspoon of regular granulated sugar weighs about 1 gram.
Brown sugar or raw sugar will weigh a bit more, as the grains are denser, while confectioner’s sugar, which is much finer, will weigh less.
Similarly, a pinch of salt, or about 1/4 of a teaspoon of regular table salt, will also weigh right around 1 gram.
A Raisin
A single raisin is about 1 gram.
Raisins are just grapes that have been dried for a period of time, which helps to concentrate and sweeten their flavor.
Because they’re full of liquid, grapes actually weigh quite a bit more than 1 gram.
If you want to know what 1 gram feels like, or you’d like to add up grams to estimate different weights, a box of raisins can be a big help.
Each raisin will weigh a bit differently, as grapes grow to different sizes and the drying process will have variable results, but in general, the weight of 1 gram per raisin is relatively accurate.
A Paper Clip
A single regularly-sized paper clip weighs almost exactly 1 gram.
This means that you can easily estimate weights or calibrate scales using a box of paper clips.
A jumbo paper clip, which is designed to hold more papers together, weighs about 1.5 grams.
Although it’s not as accurate as a smaller paper clip, a jumbo paper clip can still help you get a feel for the weight of a single gram.
A Thumbtack
Almost everyone has a thumbtack in their room, kitchen, or office, so this common household item is a great tool for estimating weights.
A plain thumbtack with a round, flat metal head weighs almost exactly 1 gram.
Larger thumbtacks or thumbtacks with different designs or decorations will weigh a bit more.
The material the tack is made of can also cause differences in weight. However, on average, holding or imagining the weight of a thumbtack can help you estimate what 1 gram feels like with relative accuracy.
A Business Card
In general, a business card weighs about, if not exactly, 1 gram.
Business cards are almost always the same size, which helps to keep their weight about the same from card to card.
However, different paperweights, whether the card is matte or glossy, and even the number of words printed on the card can change the weight slightly, so it’s a good idea to keep these fluctuations in mind when you’re using a business card to estimate what a gram feels like.
A Small Candle
Most candles can be quite heavy, and they will weigh well over a single gram.
However, the small, spiraled candles, commonly used on birthday cakes, each weigh about 1 gram before they’ve been used.
A candle that has been burned will weigh a bit less due to the loss of wax.
Picturing one of these bright birthday candles and how it feels to hold can give you a good idea of just how light 1 gram is.
A Piece of Gum
A piece of gum, whether it’s a stick or a more compact piece, doesn’t seem very large, and that’s because a piece of gum only weighs about 1 gram.
Nearly everyone has had a piece of gum or knows what it feels like to hold a piece of gum, so it’s a great tool for estimating what 1 gram feels like.
Ten Guppies
Guppies are one of the most common, popular fish types for the home aquarium thanks to their bright colors, fancy fins, and how easy they are to care for.
Both experienced and beginner aquarium enthusiasts often choose to keep this fish variety.
These vibrant fish are also quite small. At birth, guppies weigh only a fraction of a milligram.
Once they’re adults, they usually weigh about .1 grams or 100 milligrams.
This means that 10 guppies, which is what you’ll often see in an aquarium, weigh right around 1 gram.
In general, female guppies tend to be a bit larger, and therefore a bit heavier, than male guppies.
