The standard pounds abbreviation is lb, and in everyday American writing the plural is often lbs. So a bag of flour may say "5 lb" or "5 lbs," and both mean five pounds. The letters look strange at first because neither one appears in the word pound.
They come from Latin. The Romans used a unit called the libra, and the phrase libra pondo meant "a pound by weight." English kept the word pound from pondo and the short form lb from libra. That old split is why the abbreviation and the word do not match.
Quick facts
Abbreviation
lbPlural
lb (technical) or lbs (everyday)Period
Usually none in US use; lb. also seenFrom
Latin libra, a Roman unit of weightEquals
16 ounces, about 0.454 kilogramsOther symbol
# after a number, as in 10#Not to be confused with
The pound sterling, written £ or GBP
What does lb stand for, and what does lbs stand for?
Lb stands for libra, the Latin word for a pound of weight. It also meant a balance or scales, which is why the zodiac sign Libra is shown as a set of scales. Lbs simply adds an s to show more than one pound.
| Short form | Means | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| lb | One pound, or pounds in technical style | Science, engineering, nutrition labels, "1 lb" |
| lbs | Pounds, more than one | Gym logs, grocery signs, shipping forms, "25 lbs" |
In careful technical writing, units do not take a plural s, so "10 lb" is the formal choice. In casual American writing, "10 lbs" is common and easily understood.
Pound abbreviation in recipes and on packages
Recipe line: "1 lb ground turkey, 2 cups rice, 1 tbsp oil." Here lb means one pound of meat, which is 16 ounces.
Grocery stores mark meat, fruit and cheese by the pound. A sign might read "per lb" or "/lb," meaning the cost of one pound. Nutrition and package labels often show both systems: "Net wt 1 lb (454 g)." For smaller amounts, recipes switch to the ounce abbreviation, oz, and metric recipes use the gram abbreviation, g.
The # sign as an abbreviation for pounds
In the US, the # symbol after a number can also mean pounds. You will see it on feed bags, shipping boxes, paper weights and bakery orders, such as "50# bag" or "20# paper." This is why many Americans call # the pound sign, especially on a phone keypad. Before a number, as in "#5," the same sign means number instead. If a reader might be confused, write lb.
Writing the pounds abbreviation correctly
- Lowercase: write lb, not LB or Lb, unless it starts a heading.
- Space: type one blank after the digits, as in "3 lb."
- Period: most US style drops it, but "lb." is not wrong. Pick one and stay with it.
- Plural: lb or lbs, never lb's with an apostrophe.
- Spell it out: in a sentence without a number, write the word: "Apples are sold by the pound."
For a broader look at short forms like these, see how to abbreviate.
Pounds and other units that use lb
The pound also shows up inside longer unit names:
- ft-lb or lb-ft: foot pounds, a measure of force times distance used for engine torque and bolt tightness.
- PSI: pounds per square inch, the pressure in a tire or a pipe.
- lbf: pound force, used by engineers to separate force from mass.
One pound is exactly 0.45359237 kilograms, so 1 kg is about 2.2 lb. For other weight short forms, see the abbreviation for weight.
Pounds of weight vs pounds of money
The British currency is also called the pound, and its symbol, £, is a stylized L, again from libra. In banking and on currency boards, its three letter code is GBP. When you see £ before a number, think money. When you see lb or lbs after a number, think weight. You can browse many more word shortcuts on the common abbreviations hub.
Questions people ask
What is the abbreviation for pounds?
It is lb, and the everyday plural is lbs. Both come from the Latin word libra.
Is it lb or lbs for more than one pound?
Both are used. Technical and scientific writing keeps lb for any amount, while casual American writing often uses lbs for more than one.
Why is pound abbreviated lb?
The abbreviation comes from libra, a Roman weight unit. The English word pound comes from a different part of the same Latin phrase, libra pondo.
Does lb need a period?
Not usually in American writing. Some older or formal styles write lb., and readers understand both.
How many ounces are in a pound?
There are 16 ounces in one pound. That is the standard pound used for food and body weight in the United States.