Quarts to Pounds & Ounces Converter

How to Convert Quarts to Pounds

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Since quarts are a unit of volume and pounds are a unit of mass, which are different physical quantities, we need to know one more physical quantity of the ingredient or substance to convert between them. In this case, we need to account for the density of the substance whenever we do a conversion.

Therefore, to convert between quarts and pounds of an ingredient or substance, we must either multiply or divide by its density, depending on which direction we are performing the conversion.

Quarts to Pounds Formula

To convert a measurement in quarts to pounds, multiply the volume by the density of the ingredient or material. Note that in order for this to work, the density must be in pounds per quart (lb/qt).

If the density is given in grams per milliliter (g/mL), then first multiply the density by 2.0864 to convert to lb/qt.

For a density given in g/mL, you can use this simple formula to convert:

pounds = quarts × 2.0864 × density

Thus, the weight in pounds is equal to the volume in quarts multiplied by 2.0864 times the density (in g/mL) of the ingredient, substance, or material.

For example, here's how to convert 5 quarts to pounds for an ingredient with a density of 0.7 g/mL.

pounds = 5 qt × 2.0864 × 0.7 g/mL = 7.3022 lb

When to Convert Quarts to Pounds

Quarts and pounds are both commonly used to measure cooking ingredients.

For cooking applications, most chefs suggest measuring dry ingredients by weight rather than volume to improve accuracy in the measurements.^[1] The density of dry ingredients can vary for a variety of reasons, such as compaction and clumping.

The best way to ensure an accurate conversion is to use a scale. When a scale is not available, a calculator like the one above is a good way to estimate the volume to weight conversion.

Another useful application of weight and volume conversions is chemistry. When performing chemical reactions by combining separate chemicals to produce a new chemical, one must know the exact amount of each chemical to add in order to maximize the yield of the reaction.

It is common to mix powdered chemicals with liquid, or aqueous, chemicals, and this is where it becomes very useful to convert between weights and volumes.^[2]

A third application of weight and volume conversions is when shipping freight when calculating the volumetric weight for cargo and packages. Trucks, ships, and airplanes are limited in the amount of weight or volume they can transport, so if one of those quantities is known, but the limitation is on the other, then it becomes necessary to convert between the two so as not to overload the shipping vehicle.

Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.

How Many Pounds Are in a Quart?

The actual weight of a quart will vary depending on the density of the material. The table below shows how many pounds of various wet and dry ingredients are in a quart.

Quart measurements converted to pounds for commonly used cooking and baking ingredients.
Volume in Quarts:	Weight in Pounds of:
Volume in Quarts:	Water	Milk	Cooking Oil	All Purpose Flour	Granulated Sugar
1/8 qt	0.260794 lb	0.268618 lb	0.229499 lb	0.13796 lb	0.220462 lb
1/4 qt	0.521588 lb	0.537235 lb	0.458997 lb	0.27592 lb	0.440925 lb
1/3 qt	0.69545 lb	0.716314 lb	0.611996 lb	0.367893 lb	0.587899 lb
1/2 qt	1.0432 lb	1.0745 lb	0.917994 lb	0.55184 lb	0.881849 lb
2/3 qt	1.3909 lb	1.4326 lb	1.224 lb	0.735786 lb	1.1758 lb
3/4 qt	1.5648 lb	1.6117 lb	1.377 lb	0.82776 lb	1.3228 lb
1 qt	2.0864 lb	2.1489 lb	1.836 lb	1.1037 lb	1.7637 lb

What Is a Quart?

The US liquid quart is a unit of fluid volume equal to one fourth of a gallon, two pints, or four cups.

The liquid quart should not be confused with the dry quart (US) or the imperial quart, which are different units. However, when someone refers to a volume in quarts, they typically mean the US liquid quart.

The quart is a US customary unit of volume. Quarts can be abbreviated as qt; for example, 1 quart can be written as 1 qt.

Learn more about quarts.

What Is a Pound?

Pounds are a widely used unit of weight in the United States. The National Bureau of Standards approved the international definition of the pound for use in the United States in 1959 after an agreement between six nations referred to as the International Yard and Pound Agreement.^[3]

One pound is equal to 16 ounces, or 0.45359237 kilograms. In the avoirdupois or apothecaries' systems, one pound is equal to 7,000 grains.^[4]

The pound is a US customary and imperial unit of mass. A pound is sometimes also referred to as a common ounce. Pounds can be abbreviated as lb (plural lbs), and are also sometimes abbreviated as lb_m or #. For example, 1 pound can be written as 1 lb, 1 lb_m, or 1 #, and 2 pounds can be written as 2 lbs.

A pound is also frequently referred to as a unit of weight. While technically, a pound is a measure of mass, and weight is actually a measure of force, the two are equivalent as long as we are performing our calculations on Earth.

For example, an object with a mass of 1 pound weighs 1 pound on Earth, but only weighs one-sixth of that on the moon, yet still has the same mass.

Learn more about pounds.

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