A gram is a surprisingly lightweight amount, so it can be hard to estimate. It’s even harder to estimate half of a gram. Finding a few examples of things that weigh or add up to half a gram can make it easier to visualize the weight.
Here are 11 items that weigh half a gram.
Three Sunflower Seeds
It’s a challenge to find items so small that they only weigh half a gram, but sunflower seeds are so small that they actually weigh less than half a gram. Most weigh between 135 and 150 milligrams or 0.135 to 0.15 grams.
This means you would need three to four sunflower seeds to equal 0.5 grams.
Pumpkin seeds also weigh close to half a gram, but because they’re larger than sunflower seeds, you only need about one pumpkin seed to equal that weight.
Two Peas
Most peas weigh about 0.36 grams, so two peas equal just over half a gram. Like any organic item, peas can grow to various sizes, so not every pea will weigh the same amount.
Some larger peas might weigh half a gram themselves, and other peas might weigh as little as 0.1 grams or 100 milligrams.
One Flea
It’s hard to judge just how much a single flea weighs, as there are several varieties, and each flea, even within the same species, can grow to a different weight.
However, fleas generally weigh less than 1 gram, and many weigh right around 0.5 grams.
Cat fleas are a much smaller flea species, and they usually only weigh between 0.03 and 0.045 grams. This means you would need between 11 and 16 or even 17 cat fleas to equal half a gram.
Two Kernels of Corn
Almost everyone is familiar with the size of a kernel of corn, and most corn kernels are close in size, so they’re a great way to visualize small weights.
One kernel of corn generally weighs between 0.25 and 0.35 grams. Two kernels of corn might weigh exactly half a gram, but because they do fluctuate in size, they might weigh a little bit more.
Still, picturing two kernels of corn can get you to a weight that’s quite close to half a gram.
Eleven Houseflies
Although some houseflies seem close to the same size as a sunflower seed or a kernel of corn, they actually weigh significantly less.
Most houseflies weigh around 0.045 grams, which means you would need 11 houseflies to equal half a gram. Some houseflies weigh as little as 0.002 grams, so it would take 250 to add up to half a gram.
A 1 Inch by 1 Inch Lego Brick
Legos come in many shapes and sizes so you can build various objects with them, but most Legos are roughly 1 inch wide and 1 inch long. These Legos make a great visual representation as well since they usually weigh about 0.45 grams, which is only slightly less than half a gram.
Even other Legos of similar size but with a different shape should weigh close to half a gram.
Two Sticky Notes
Sticky notes vary in weight depending on their exact size and how thick the paper is. Notes with a wider sticky area are also a bit heavier, as the sticky substance adds a surprising amount of weight.
Most sticky notes of average size, however, weigh about 0.01 ounces, which equals around 0.28 grams. Therefore, two sticky notes equal about half of a gram.
A 2.5-Carat Diamond
A 2.5-carat diamond usually measures around 0.25 inches in diameter and weighs almost exactly 0.5 grams. Diamonds of this size are considered to be fairly large.
Most diamonds found on engagement rings, for example, are only about 1.5 carats, and even large engagement rings are only around 2 carats. However, a 2.5-carat diamond could be used on a pendant or as a statement ring.
One Silica Gel Packet
Small silica gel packets are often found in handbags or shoeboxes. They absorb moisture and help to keep items dry during shipping. One of these tiny packets generally weighs about half a gram.
One Raisin
Raisins are simply dried grapes, so they vary slightly in weight depending on how big the grape was and the total moisture content. Most raisins, however, weigh right around 0.5 grams, although some larger raisins can weigh as much as 1.5 grams each.
Two Aspirin Tablets
You can purchase aspirin tablets in various doses, and larger doses weigh a bit more. Generally, however, an aspirin tablet weighs about half a gram. You can estimate the weight of a tablet by looking at how many milligrams of aspirin it contains.
Any coating or additional ingredients will add a bit more weight.
