[Tia]

The way honey is sold confuses me. I put my honey in half-pint (8 fl. oz) and pint(16 fl. oz) jars, but it appears that honey is more commonly priced and sold by the pound! Does anyone have a conversion table: fluid ounces to dry ounces/pounds? I'm totally confused!

 

[db_land]

A quart (32 ounces) weights 3.1 lbs. Using these numbers the conversion factor would be 3.1/32 for lbs per ounce. It may be tough to get a more precise answer since the weight depends on moisture content of the honey.

 

[Dave W]

Greetings . . .

1 gallon honey (3.79 liters) weighs 11 lbs., 13.2 ounces. (189.2 oz)
. . Source: Beekeeping for Dummies, p 16

1 gallon honey weighs 11 lbs, 12 ounces at 68oF.
. . Source: ABC&XYZ, 1974, p437

1 gallon = 128 fl oz
1 fl oz honey = 1.478 (189.2 / 128)
1.478 X 8 (half-pint) = 11.824 oz weight
11.824 / 16 = .739 OR almost 3/4 lb

------------------
Dave W . . .

A NewBEE with 1 hive.
First package installed
April, 2003.

 

[Tia]

Thanks!

 

[Michael Bush]

As mentioned, the differences are due to different moisture content.

 

[Dave W]

The textbooks do not make reference to moisture but do mention temperature as a factor in the weight of honey.

 

[Michael Bush]

I wouldn't think that temps would matter much, but moisture content does. If you don't believe me, try this experiment. Take a pint of water and weigh it. Add a cup of sugar and remeasure just a pint and weigh it. Add another cup of sugar and remeasure it and weigh it. As the moisture content goes down the weight goes up.

If you want other sources:
How much does a gallon of honey weigh?
http://www.westernbee.com/faq.htm

That's highly dependent on the moisture content of the honey - it varies up to 11 lbs., 14 ounces
http://www.mainebee.com/articles/oct2000a.php

George Imirie:

HOW MUCH DOES HONEY WEIGH?

Since the density of honey varies slightly with the percentage water that is in the honey, a "specific gravity" figure cannot be given. However, for the most part, honey is half again heavier than water. Hence, a 5 gallon can of honey contains 60 pounds of honey, but it would only hold about 40 pounds of water.