Gold Weight Converter: Grams, Tola, Ounce
Saudi shops price gold by the gram, but buyers arrive thinking in tola, ounces or sovereigns depending on where they are from. Comparing quotes across units without converting first is the most common source of confusion in the market.
| Weight | 21K |
|---|---|
| 1 gram | SAR 461.45 |
| 5 grams | SAR 2,307.25 |
| 10 grams | SAR 4,614.50 |
| 20 grams | SAR 9,229.00 |
| 50 grams | SAR 23,073 |
| 100 grams | SAR 46,145 |
| Tola (11.66g) | SAR 5,382.26 |
| Ounce (31.10g) | SAR 14,352.71 |
The Conversion Factors
- 1 tola = 11.6638 grams (also called bhori or vori)
- 1 troy ounce = 31.1035 grams, roughly 2.667 tola
- 1 sovereign / gold pound = 7.9881 grams
- 1 kilogram = 1,000 grams, roughly 85.74 tola, roughly 32.15 troy ounces
- 10 tola = 116.638 grams
Note that the troy ounce used for precious metals is not the same as the avoirdupois ounce used for food, which is 28.3495 grams. Using the wrong one produces a nine percent error, which on a significant purchase is a large amount of money.
When You Actually Need to Convert
Comparing quotes given in different units. If one shop quotes per tola and another per gram, the numbers cannot be compared until both are in the same unit. Convert to grams and judge afterwards.
Reading international news. Gold is quoted globally in troy ounces and US dollars. To translate that into riyals per gram, divide by 31.1035 and multiply by 3.75.
Valuing inherited pieces. Older items are often described in sovereigns or tola, and converting to grams is necessary to price them at today’s rate.
Buying bullion. Bars are usually produced in metric weights while international investment coins are struck in ounce denominations, so conversion is needed to compare them properly.
Worked Conversions
Example one. A necklace quoted at 3 tola. Multiply 3 by 11.6638 to get 34.99 grams, then multiply by the per-gram rate for the karat to get metal value.
Example two. Gold reported at 4,000 dollars per ounce. Divide by 31.1035 for 128.60 dollars per gram, then multiply by 3.75 for roughly 482 riyals per gram of pure 24K gold. Multiply by 0.875 for the 21K equivalent.
Example three. An inherited set described as five gold sovereigns. Multiply 5 by 7.9881 for 39.94 grams, then value it at today’s rate for its karat.
Think in Grams
The practical advice is to think in grams regardless of which unit you speak in. The gram is the unit Saudi shops price in, and it is the common denominator that makes any two offers comparable.
Convert everything else to grams first, then compare. That single habit protects you from the most common purchasing error, which is comparing numbers that are not measuring the same thing.
Where the Units Come From
The mix of units in the Saudi market is a product of trade history rather than confusion. The tola arrived with South Asian trade and remains the mental unit for millions of expatriate buyers. The troy ounce is the standard of international bullion markets and is what every global price quote uses. The sovereign descends from historic gold coinage still held by families across the region. The gram is the modern retail standard and what Saudi shops actually price in.
All four continue to be used because each serves a real constituency. That is why converting, rather than insisting on one unit, is the practical skill.
Avoiding the Two Common Errors
Confusing troy and standard ounces. The troy ounce is 31.1035 grams; the ordinary ounce is 28.3495 grams. Using the wrong one introduces a nine percent error, which on a fifty gram purchase is a substantial sum.
Rounding the sovereign to eight grams. The correct figure is 7.9881 grams. On a single piece the difference is trivial; across ten pieces it is more than a gram of gold, which is real money.
Converting Prices, Not Just Weights
Remember that converting a weight is only half the job. To convert a price quoted per tola into a price per gram, divide by 11.6638. To go from a dollar-per-ounce quote to riyals per gram, divide by 31.1035 then multiply by 3.75.
And when comparing across karats, multiply by the purity factor as well. A per-gram price for 24K is not comparable to a per-gram price for 21K until one has been adjusted to the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grams in a tola?
11.6638 grams. The same measure is called bhori or vori in Bangladesh.
How many grams in a troy ounce?
31.1035 grams. This differs from the ordinary ounce of 28.3495 grams used for food.
How much does a gold sovereign weigh?
7.9881 grams, not eight grams as it is sometimes rounded. The difference adds up across quantities.
See the gold calculator, per tola rates, or per ounce rates.