9 Popular Things that Weight 100 Grams

100 grams might sound like a lot, especially if you’re not accustomed to the metric system. In reality, 100 grams is the same as 3.5274 ounces or 0.220462 pounds. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? Despite this relatively lightweight, getting a feel for 100 grams in your hand can be impossible. That is, unless you have something that serves as a reference!

These everyday objects have a weight of 100 grams or close to it:

  • Stick of butter
  • 100 paper clips
  • 4 35-mm film rolls
  • ½ cup of sugar
  • 2 medium eggs
  • 2 golf balls
  • 3 toy cars
  • 18 quarters
  • 2 tennis balls

1. Stick of Butter

Stick of Butter

Butter has been a staple in kitchens for centuries. It’s made from churning cream and can take on different flavors based on the cows’ diet. Did you know that in ancient times, butter was also used as a beauty cream and medicine? Gone are the days of spreading delicious fats on our faces!

When you think of 100 grams, picture a standard stick of butter. Most sticks of butter in the US weigh about 113 grams, which is very close to 100 grams. A stick of butter is precisely half a cup, so in a box of 4 sticks, you’re getting 2 cups or 1 pound of this delicious fat.

2. 100 Paper Clips

100 Paper Clips

Those little twists of metal known as paper clips were first patented in the 1890s. They haven’t changed much since! Each one is able to hold papers together without damaging them. The largest paper clip in the world is 30 feet 5 inches tall and located in Russia!

That statue probably weighs hundreds of pounds, so let’s use common paper clips. These 1-inch coils of metal weigh about 1 gram each. So, if the math is right, 100 paper clips would have a collective mass of 100 grams.

3. 4 35-mm Film Rolls

4 35 mm Film Rolls

Film rolls captured memories long before digital cameras. Each 35-mm film roll can store up to 36 photos. Interestingly, the 35-mm format was popularized by the movie industry before becoming a photography standard. And did you know, early films were made from highly flammable nitrocellulose?

To get a sense of what 100 grams feels like, think of 4 35-mm film rolls. Each roll, with its canister, weighs around 28.7 grams. If you thought film rolls were a thing of the past, get with the times! Film rolls are making a comeback, with their unique aesthetic being a top reason.

4. ½ Cup of Sugar

½ Cup of Sugar

Sugar was once so rare, it was called “white gold” and was a luxury for the rich. Originally from New Guinea, sugar spread worldwide with explorers. Sugar doesn’t spoil, so it can last indefinitely if kept dry and away from ants! The same is true for brown sugar, which is sugar mixed with molasses. They usually have a shelf life of 2 years, though.

In the kitchen, bakers measure ingredients by volume and/or weight. A full cup of granulated sugar is 211 grams. Divide that in half, and you’re left with a figure close to 100 grams, which is enough to sweeten a small batch of cookies.

5. 2 Medium Eggs

2 Medium Eggs

Eggs are amazing little packages of nutrition that come in their own biodegradable shell. Did you know that the color of the eggshell is determined by the breed of the hen? Also, hens with red feathers and earlobes lay brown eggs, while those with white feathers and earlobes lay white eggs!

Look in your pantry for a carton of eggs and pull 2 of them out. Each egg should weigh around 50 to 60 grams, so their collective weights will be close to 100 grams. These weights refer to the eggs with their shells!

6. 2 Golf Balls

2 Golf Balls

Golf balls were originally made from wood in the 14th century. Modern golf balls have about 300 to 500 dimples, which help them fly farther. The dimples create turbulence in the air around the ball to reduce drag. Plus, they bounce because of a rubber core inside.

The weight of a regulation golf ball is 45.93 grams. If you have a pair of them, they will be pretty close to 100 grams. You can probably add a golf tee to get closer to 100 grams.

7. 3 Toy Cars

3 Toy Cars

Toy cars have been a favorite for generations, zooming around since the 1950s. These mini vehicles often replicate real car models. The largest collection of toy cars has about 50,000 models! Some toy cars are so detailed, they have tiny engines and doors that open and close.

If you want to approximate 100 grams in toy car terms, find 3 Hot Wheels figures. The weight of one should be around 36-1/4 grams. You can probably get by with 2 toy cars if you use larger models.

8. 18 Quarters

18 Quarters

Unsurprisingly, a quarter in the US is equal to a quarter of a dollar. Each US quarter has an eagle on one side and a portrait of George Washington on the other. The designs on the back change to represent each state, so they have become a collected item.

Each quarter has a weight of 5.67 grams. Collect 18 of them with a total value of $4.50, and you’ll have about 100 grams worth of pocket change. That’s enough to do an entire load of laundry with a few quarters left to spare.

9. 2 Tennis Balls

2 Tennis Balls

The bright yellow hue of a tennis ball wasn’t always the standard. They were originally white or black until yellow was adopted in 1972 for better TV visibility. These bouncy spheres are made of rubber and covered in felt, and they’re filled with pressurized air to give them that famous bounce.

For a handy way to estimate 100 grams, think of 2 tennis balls. Each ball weighs 59 grams, giving you a total weight of slightly more than 100 grams. If you have a tennis racket at home, you can get 100 grams by halving its weight.