Generally, five grams can be considered a lightweight measurement.
But despite that, it can be frustrating to understand or determine just how heavy it is.
But it shouldn’t.
All you need to do is to familiarize yourself with a few things that weigh about 5 grams so you can use them as reference points, and you are all set.
What items are they?
Read on to find out as I unroll them from one to fourteen.
Read: 13 Common Things That Weigh About 200 Grams (+ Pics)
Things That Weigh About 5 Grams
Five grams is significantly lighter than objects like a smartphone, a book, or a pair of shoes.
It’s also much lighter than food items such as apples or a slice of bread.
However, the following items are comparable to five grams.
1. A Nickel
The nickel is the perfect reference for five grams because it weighs precisely five grams. In fact, you can use it to calibrate your faulty weighing scale.
The nickel is one of the most commonly used coins in daily transactions. So if you have some reserved for vending machines or making other payments, look no further.
2. A US Quarter
US quarters are commonly used to determine lightweight measurements, such as ten grams. And could also be just what you need to determine how heavy five grams is.
A US quarter weighs precisely 5.67 grams, slightly heavier than a nickel but still a solid reference point for that measurement.
The good news is that they are more readily available than nickels due to their higher face value. So there’s a good chance you have them at home.
3. Two Cents
Cents, also known as pennies, are commonly used in everyday transactions, similar to nickels and quarters. However, their popularity is dwindling, so they often accumulate in jars or are left behind as spare change.
They’re among the smallest coins in the United States currency system, with each weighing 2.5 grams.
If you have them in plenty, you can pick two to get an idea of something weighing five grams.
4. A Bundle of Five US Banknotes
On the same topic of US currency, dollar notes also come in handy in understanding lightweight measurements. They’re the perfect reference points for one gram since they are just as heavy.
But you can also use them to understand relatively heavier measurements. In our case here, five will suffice.
5. Five Jelly Beans
Jelly beans give Easter vibes as they are commonly used in Easter egg hunts and as decorations in Easter baskets.
Due to their lightweight nature, you might not have pondered about their actual weight while enjoying them. Have you?
Well, each bean is approximately 1.1 grams heavy. Therefore, you have to pick five at a go to determine a weight of five grams.
6. Five Shelled Almonds
Almonds make for an excellent snack due to their versatility, but more importantly, due to their rich nutritional profile. They’re some of the nuts with high protein content.
A shelled almond is slightly heavier than a jelly bean at 1.1 grams. The weight may vary slightly, but that’s the average weight of the nuts.
So similarly to jelly beans, five almonds can give you a practical understanding of five grams.
7. One Teaspoon of Water
Water offers one of the most relatable ways to understand different measurements, as light as one ounce and as heavy as 80 kilograms. That’s because it’s divisible into different quantities, and most importantly, it is universally available.
A teaspoon of water weighs 4.93 grams.
So if you are at home wondering how heavy five grams is, imagine it as slightly more than a teaspoon of water.
8. Two Teaspoons of All-purpose Flour
Flour is another popular household item you can rely on to understand lightweight measurements, including five grams.
The weight of flour may vary depending on the ingredients used, but a teaspoon of all-purpose flour (one used to make cakes, cookies, bread, pastries, and more) usually weighs 2.6 grams.
With two teaspoons of this flour, you can get a tangible understanding of five grams.
9. A Letter-sized Paper
A letter-sized paper is the standard paper size widely used in the United States. It is commonly used for various purposes, including printing documents, letters, resumes, and school assignments.
Measuring 8.5 x 11 inches and weighing 4.5 grams, a letter-sized paper can give you a practical understanding of five grams. All you need to do is imagine something slightly heavier than that.
10. A Bunch of 5 Standard Paper Clips
Paper clips go hand in hand with letter-sized papers. They are used to hold several sheets together, helping tidy and organize a working desk in various settings, including homes and offices.
Paper clips come in two types; the big colored ones weighing approximately 1.5 grams and the standard metallic ones, the most common, weighing precisely one gram.
If you can find several around, five can help you determine how heavy five grams is.
11. A Bunch of Five Paper Straws
Paper straws offer a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to plastic straws. They are crafted using biodegradable and compostable materials, including paper pulp, bamboo, or other plant-based fibers.
The weight of paper straws may vary depending on the manufacturer, but the difference is usually minimal.
Most weigh about 1.1 grams, meaning a bunch of five can be a reliable reference for 5 grams.
12. A Plastic Debit Card
Did you know that there is something you carry in your wallet that can help you grasp the concept of five grams?
A plastic debit card weighs approximately five grams. They’re the most common in the United States than the metallic ones, which are heavier, ranging between 13 and 18 grams.
Similarly, you can reference a plastic credit card, too, as they are just as heavy.
13. Five Pen Caps
It’s always soothing to play with pen caps during moments of restlessness or to help improve focus.
And while snapping, spinning, or flipping the caps, the last thing you can pay attention to is their weight.
Although the weight may vary depending on the model of the pen, the difference is usually minimal, and each is about one gram.
Therefore, if you can get as many as five, they would have a combined weight of approximately five grams.
Read: 12 Well-known Things That Weigh 100 Grams
14. Three Standard Playing Cards
Often used in social gatherings, family gatherings, and casual entertainment, standard playing cards are reliable reference points for various measurements, as we’ve seen countless times at measuringly.com.
These cards have a standard size of 3.5 inches long and 2.5 inches wide and weigh approximately 1.8 grams each.
If you have a deck of standard playing cards for playing blackjack, solitaire, or poker with friends, you only need three cards to realize a weight of five grams.
