Have you ever looked at something and immediately knew how much it weighed? Probably not, and it becomes increasingly more difficult if you need to imagine a weight—say, 20 grams. It’s the same as 0.705479 ounces, but using everyday objects as references is much easier to gauge 20 grams without a scale.
Want to figure out how heavy 20 grams is? Try using the following objects:
- 5 teaspoons of sugar
- 18 shelled almonds
- 4 plastic credit cards
- 8 Lego Bricks
- BIC lighter
- DVD or CD
- 7 ping pong balls
- ½ Hershey’s Bar
1. 5 Teaspoons of Sugar
Sugar has this magical way of sneaking into almost everything, making life a bit sweeter, one teaspoon at a time. It’s like the friend who’s always there to lift your spirits, whether you’re diving into a pint of ice cream or savoring a homemade cookie. But let’s be honest, it’s also the friend who can get you into a bit of trouble.
As Mary Poppins used to say: “A teaspoon of sugar makes the medicine go down!” However, 5 teaspoons is what you’ll need to feel how heavy 20 grams is. Each teaspoon of sugary sweetness weighs about 4 grams, assuming you flatten the top of your measuring spoon!
2. 18 Shelled Almonds
You can always count on the unimposing almond for a quick pick-me-up. This is especially true if you’re trying to want all of the health benefits (reduces cholesterol, regulates blood sugar, and much more) in a quick bite. They’ve got a knack for fitting in everywhere, from your morning smoothie to that fancy dessert you pretend to know how to make.
Every agricultural product in a yield has a unique weight, and almonds are no different. If you manage to get your hands on a package of shelled almonds, you may find the average weight of each is 1.1 grams. So, you would need 18 of them, give or take a few shells, to get to 20 grams.
3. 4 Plastic Credit Cards
The credit card is a small plastic herald of both freedom and fear. It can make all your financial dreams come true, but like any dream, you’ll have to wake up and face the music. Swipe, tap, done—it’s all so easy, you almost forget it’s real money. Until the bill arrives, and suddenly it’s less magic wand and more reality check.
There are 2 credit card variants: plastic and metal. Plastic credit cards are about 5 grams each, so 4 of them would be a pretty accurate representation of 20 grams. Metal cards, on the other hand, are 13 to 18 grams, so a single one might do.
5. 8 LEGO Bricks
LEGO bricks are the colorful building blocks of everyone’s childhood and, for many of us, adulthood. Ever stepped on one barefoot? It’s a unique form of torture nobody would wish on their worst enemy. But the joy these little bricks bring, constructing worlds limited only by imagination, is unlike anything else.
Open a box of LEGO blocks and you’ll find dozens, if not hundreds, of unique pieces. One of the more common bricks is the 2×4 brick, which weighs 2.5 grams. Get 8 of them together, and you’ll have a colorful visual of 20 grams.
6. BIC Lighter
BIC lighters are the trusty fire-starters that have been igniting flames with a flick of the thumb since forever. Compact, handy, and often sporting quirky designs, they’re a little spark of joy in your pocket. With great power comes the great responsibility not to lose it because a BIC lighter is also a master of disappearing acts. This is especially true when one of your smoker buddies wants to “borrow” it.
The weight of a BIC lighter, lighter fluid included, is 21.8 grams or nearly 2 grams beyond the figure we’re trying to measure. If you don’t have a fresh lighter on hand, you can use an empty one as a reference since it weighs around 17.1 grams.
7. DVD or CD
DVDs are a nostalgic relic of simpler times. Remember the thrill of browsing the rental store aisles or the excitement of adding a new title to your collection? As streaming services took over, these shiny circles became more of a quaint memory, like mixtapes or dial-up internet. Still, there’s something special about holding a physical copy of your favorite film.
If you pull a DVD out of the DVD case, you may find it to weigh around 16 grams. A CD, which is the older and “smaller” version of the DVD, might give you a better idea of what 20 grams weighs since it ranges from 15 to 20 grams.
8. 7 Ping Pong Balls
Ping pong balls are those lightweight orbs of joy that have seen more action than most action movies. They’re the life of basement tournaments and college parties alike. Watching them bounce back and forth over the net is mesmerizing, almost therapeutic, until someone gets too competitive, and it’s game on.
If you’re trying to figure out how heavy 20 grams is, you can use things that weighs 10 grams and double them. Ping pong balls are about 2.7 grams each, so 7 of them in a bunch can help you picture how heavy 20 grams is.
9. ½ Hershey’s Bar
The name Hershey’s conjures up images of creamy, chocolatey bliss. Whether it’s their classic milk chocolate or one of their many mouthwatering variations, Hershey’s knows how to speak the universal language of yum. And let’s not forget the magic of unwrapping a Hershey’s kiss—each little foil package is a promise of sweetness.
Hershey’s has a ton of products for sale, but let’s stick to the classics. The typical bar, which measures 13.6 × 5.4 centimeters, weighs 1.55 ounces or 43.94176 grams. Eat half the bar, and you’ll be left with about 20 grams. If all you have are Kisses, which weigh 0.44 grams each, you’ll need about 10% of this package or 45 of them.
