A QP is a quarter pound: 4 ounces, or 113.4 grams. The calculation uses the value from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which lists one ounce as 28.35 grams. Many people round an ounce to 28 grams. With that rounded value, a QP is 112 grams. Both numbers describe the same amount. The table shows how a QP converts into the other common units.
| Unit | Amount in one QP | Grams each (NIST basis) | Grams each (rounded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ounce (zip) | 4 | 28.35 g | 28 g |
| Half ounce (half zip) | 8 | 14.18 g | 14 g |
| Quarter ounce (quarter) | 16 | 7.09 g | 7 g |
| Eighth | 32 | 3.54 g | 3.5 g |
| Gram | 113.4 (NIST value) or 112 (rounded) | 1 g | 1 g |
What does QP mean in weed?
QP is short for "quarter pound", which is one quarter of a pound. The term comes from the imperial system. One pound has 16 ounces, so one quarter of a pound has 4 ounces.
In cannabis slang, the abbreviation describes a weight of flower, not a product or a quality level. A QP of one strain weighs the same as a QP of any other strain. Other common terms work the same way: a "zip" is one ounce, and an "eighth" is one eighth of an ounce. Our guide to weed measurements lists all common names in one place.
How many grams are in a QP?
A QP has 113.4 grams, or 112 grams with the rounded ounce. The first value comes from the NIST value of 28.35 grams per ounce: 4 × 28.35 grams. The rounded value comes from 4 × 28 grams.
Both numbers appear online, and this can be confusing. Neither number is wrong. The rounded value is common in everyday language because 28 is easier to divide than 28.35. The NIST value is the more precise one when you compare weights on a scale. The difference is 1.4 grams per QP. For one pound, the difference grows to 5.6 grams (453.6 grams with the NIST value compared with 448 grams rounded).
How many zips, halves and eighths are in a QP?
A QP contains 4 zips, 8 half zips, 16 quarters or 32 eighths. Each unit is a fraction of an ounce, and a QP has four ounces. You can multiply the number of units in one ounce by four.
- One ounce has 2 half ounces, so a QP has 8.
- One ounce has 4 quarters, so a QP has 16.
- One ounce has 8 eighths, so a QP has 32.
The same result appears in grams. With the rounded values, 112 grams divided by 3.5 grams gives 32 eighths. This also answers the search "how many 3.5 in a QP": the answer is 32. For a closer look at one ounce, read our article on how many grams are in a zip.
Quarter vs quarter pound: not the same amount
A quarter is a quarter of an ounce, about 7 grams. A quarter pound is four ounces, about 113 grams. The names sound similar, but a quarter pound is 16 times larger than a quarter.
The confusion comes from the word "quarter". On its own, it means a quarter of an ounce. In "quarter pound", it means a quarter of a pound. When someone writes "QP", they always mean the quarter pound. When someone writes "a quarter", they usually mean 7 grams. To see what smaller amounts look like, read our article on how much 10 grams of weed is.
QP vs half pound and pound
Two QPs make a half pound, and four QPs make a pound. A half pound has 8 ounces, which is 226.8 grams with the NIST value or 224 grams rounded. A pound has 16 ounces, which is 453.6 grams with the NIST value. NIST lists the pound as 0.45 kilograms. In the other direction, half of a QP is 2 ounces, which is 56.7 grams with the NIST value or 56 grams rounded.
What does a QP of weed look like?
A QP has a fixed weight, but its volume depends on the density of the buds. Dense, compact buds fill less space than light, airy buds of the same weight. For this reason, two QPs can look very different, even on the same scale.
Moisture also plays a role. Flower with more water weighs more, and flower loses some weight as it dries during storage. A visual estimate is never reliable. The only accurate way to check four ounces is a calibrated scale that shows at least one decimal place. If you want to see how flower types differ in size and structure, the product photos in our flowers collection give an impression.
How to store a larger amount
Store a larger amount of flower in airtight glass jars, in a cool and dark place. Light, heat and air dry out the flower and change its aroma over time. Several smaller jars are better than one large jar, because each opening lets in fresh air.
Keep the humidity stable. Flower that is too dry becomes brittle, and flower that is too moist can develop mould. Check the jars from time to time for moisture or a musty smell. Our guide on drying cannabis in a box explains how moisture in the flower changes during drying. Keep all jars out of reach of children and pets.
The laws on cannabis differ from country to country. In many places, possession of a quarter pound is far above any limit for personal use, and in some places possession of any amount is illegal. Check the rules where you live before you carry any amount.
