Grams vs Tola: Complete Guide to Weight Conversion
Understanding the difference between grams and tola is essential for anyone buying or selling gold and jewelry in South Asia and the Middle East.
What is a Tola?
A tola is a traditional unit of mass used primarily in the Indian subcontinent for measuring gold and silver. One tola is standardized at exactly 11.6638038 grams, which equals approximately 180 troy grains.
1 Tola = 11.6638038 grams What is a Gram?
The gram is the SI unit of mass, defined as one-thousandth of a kilogram. It is the international standard for measuring jewelry and precious metals in most countries.
History of the Tola
The tola has its origins in ancient India and was standardized during British colonial rule. The word "tola" comes from the Sanskrit "tolaka." During the British Raj, the tola was standardized to 180 grains (11.6638 grams) to align with the British troy weight system.
- • Ancient Period - Used in Vedic texts for measuring gold
- • Mughal Era - Standardized across the empire for trade
- • British India - Set at exactly 180 troy grains
Regional Variations
While the standard tola equals 11.6638g, usage and related units vary by region:
| Country | Primary Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 India | Grams (transitioning) | BIS hallmarking uses grams |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | Tola | Primary unit in all markets |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Both | Traditional uses tola, modern uses grams |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | Tola | NGSA quotes in tola |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | Grams | Tola understood for South Asian buyers |
Quick Conversion Reference
Grams → Tola
| 10 g | 0.857 tola |
| 25 g | 2.143 tola |
| 50 g | 4.287 tola |
| 100 g | 8.573 tola |
| 500 g | 42.867 tola |
| 1000 g | 85.735 tola |
Tola → Grams
| 0.5 tola | 5.83 g |
| 1 tola | 11.66 g |
| 2.5 tola | 29.16 g |
| 5 tola | 58.32 g |
| 10 tola | 116.64 g |
| 100 tola | 1166.38 g |
When to Use Which Unit
Use Tola When:
- • Shopping in Pakistani jewelry markets
- • Purchasing from traditional South Asian jewelers
- • Comparing with local gold rates in Nepal
Use Grams When:
- • Checking international gold prices
- • Shopping at modern branded stores
- • Dealing with BIS-hallmarked jewelry in India