Finding out the exact weight of something that weighs less than a gram can be difficult unless you have a precise scale.
If something weighs less than a gram, it is very lightweight.
There are many items available that can be used to reference the weight of a gram.
You can use these items to get an idea of weight if you don’t have a scale handy or perhaps you are just interested in knowing the weight of something that weighs less than a gram.
It’s not only educational but fun to learn.
The following is a list of things that all weigh less than a gram.
What are grams?
Grams are a very common and small unit of measurement that is used for the weight of smaller items. Grams are part of the metric system, used frequently in Europe and around the world, but they’re also sometimes used in the United States.
1 gram is equal to 0.001 kilograms or 1000 milligrams.
Things that weigh less than a gram
Pinch of salt
People will often debate about how much a pinch of salt really is. But most people consider that a pinch of salt is equal to 1/16 teaspoon.
1/16 of a teaspoon or a pinch of salt weighs around 0.3 grams.
Small thumbtack
Thumbtacks are short metal pins with a flat head used to hold pieces of paper onto a wall or other surfaces. They are often used in offices and schools to display notices onto a bulletin board. Use your thumb to press the tack into the paper to hold it in place.
Thumbtacks are very small in size and weight. One thumbtack weighs close to 1 gram.
Pencil eraser
Most standard wood pencils come with a small rubber eraser on the end. They are used to erase pencil marks on paper.
A pencil eraser weighs about 0.4 grams. Minus the pencil.
Plastic Bottle cap
Bottle caps can vary in size and weight. Also, metal bottle caps weigh slightly more than plastic bottle caps.
If you weigh a small plastic bottle cap that would be on a soda bottle, it will weigh between 0.85 to 1 gram.
2 Inch finishing nail
Finishing nails are used to hold into place certain pieces of wood like baseboards, crown moulding, and door jambs.
Finishing nails are very small compared to a regular nail and they have small heads that are sunken into the wood easily filled by putty. They are made of steel and are available in a variety of sizes.
The weight of finishing nails can vary based on the size, but on average a 2-inch nail will weigh 0.79 grams.
Zip tie
A zip tie or cable tie is used to fasten or hold items together. They are commonly used to hold electronic cables and wires together which keeps them organized.
Zip ties are generally made with nylon and are very strong allowing them to hold a lot of weight.
Zip ties are available in a variety of sizes and therefore their weight can vary. But on average, a small zip tie used to hold small items will weigh close to 1 gram.
¼ Business card
A business card is often used to provide information about yourself and your business which can be handed out to others.
Business cards are normally made out of paper and are 3.5 inches long and 2 inches wide.
A standard business card weighs around 2.5 grams. If you want to get a sense of something that weighs less than a gram, cut the business card into 4 equal parts.
Each ¼ piece will weigh around 0.625 grams.
Small potato chip
Potato chips are made out of potatoes and are a favorite snack for many people. Potato chips can be baked or fried and come in a variety of flavors.
If you look inside a bag of potato chips, you will notice each chip is a different size. Some are large and some are small. They are easily breakable so what determines the size of a small chip versus a large one is anyone’s guess.
But if you take one of the smaller chips out of the bag, most likely it will weigh just under 1 gram.
Raisin
Raisins are a common snack and can be used for a variety of cooking dishes or eaten plain. They can be found all around the world and are simply made out of grapes that have been dried.
Raisins are generally the same size although they can vary between 1-1.5 cm long.
The average weight of a single raisin is 0.5 grams.
Aspirin
An Aspirin is also known as an ASA and is a drug used to relieve pain, fever, and inflammation. You can buy Aspirin as an over-the-counter drug and generally a prescription from your doctor is not needed. It’s important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about the use of Aspirin.
One Aspirin pill weighs 0.325 grams which is much less than a full gram.
Pumpkin seed
Pumpkin seeds are white and flat seeds found in the center of a pumpkin. These seeds are oval-shaped and are editable with many health benefits.
Many people will roast pumpkin seeds and use them in recipes or eaten as a snack.
Pumpkin seeds are quite small and weigh about 0.10 grams.
