Quick answer: Yes, but only alongside metric. UK traders may show pounds and ounces as a supplementary indication, provided the metric quantity or price is also shown and is the more prominent of the two. Selling in pounds and ounces alone is unlawful under the Weights and Measures Act 1985, and trade scales must weigh in metric.
The question comes up regularly, usually when a market stall chalks up “£1 a pound” or a butcher offers mince by the pound. The short version is that imperial units are allowed as an extra but not as a replacement, and the government confirmed in 2023 that it would not change that. This guide shows what is and is not allowed, with real label examples and the few exceptions. For background on where each system applies, see our guide to metric and imperial in the UK measurement system.
Can UK shops sell in pounds and ounces?
Shops can display pounds and ounces, but they must sell, weigh and price in metric. Section 8 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 allows only listed units to be used for trade, and the pound and ounce appear in Part VI of Schedule 1, among units that “may not be used for trade except as supplementary indications”. The government’s current guidance puts it plainly: traders may choose to show imperial units for packaged or loose goods, but must display a metric measurement alongside.
The prominence rule is precise. The metric indication must be the more prominent, with the imperial figure in characters no larger than the metric one. The two may be the same size only if the metric figure stands out in some other way, for example by being in bold. The full legal picture is set out in our guide to the Weights and Measures Act 1985.
What does a lawful dual label look like?
A lawful label gives the metric figure first or larger, with pounds and ounces as a secondary note. The imperial figure should be an accurate conversion, so it pays to check the arithmetic. Using 1 lb = 453.59237 g and 1 oz = 28.35 g:
| Metric (main figure) | Imperial supplementary figure | Example on a label |
|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 3.5 oz | 100 g (3.5 oz) |
| 227 g | 8 oz | 227 g (8 oz) |
| 250 g | 8.8 oz | 250 g (8.8 oz) |
| 454 g | 1 lb | 454 g (1 lb) |
| 500 g | 1 lb 1.6 oz | 500 g (1 lb 1.6 oz) |
| 1 kg | 2 lb 3.3 oz | 1 kg (2 lb 3.3 oz) |
Unit prices work the same way. A price of £2.50 per kg is £1.13 per lb, £5.50 per kg is £2.49 per lb, and £8.00 per kg is £3.63 per lb. To convert a price per pound into a price per kilogram, divide by 0.45359237: £1.00 per lb is £2.20 per kg. The kilograms to pounds converter is handy for checking quantities.
Can I still ask for a pound of something?
Yes. The law controls how traders weigh and price goods, not how customers ask for them. If you ask a butcher for a pound of sausages, they can weigh out roughly 454 g on metric scales and charge you by the kilogram price. Nothing in the Act stops either of you talking in pounds and ounces.
What the trader cannot do is use scales that weigh only in imperial units for the sale. That was the issue in the Metric Martyrs case: Sunderland greengrocer Steve Thoburn was convicted in 2001 for using scales calibrated only in pounds and ounces, and the High Court dismissed his appeal in February 2002. The case is covered in more detail in our history of when the UK went metric.
Which imperial units can still be used on their own?
Only three: the pint for draught beer and cider, the pint for milk in returnable containers, and the troy ounce for precious metals. These are the exceptions written into section 8 of the 1985 Act and confirmed in the government’s 2023 guidance. Everything else must have a metric figure.
- Draught beer and cider: served in a third, half or two-thirds of a pint, or multiples of half a pint.
- Doorstep milk: milk in returnable glass bottles can be sold by the pint (568 ml).
- Gold and silver: bullion prices are quoted per troy ounce, which is 31.1034768 g, heavier than the everyday 28.35 g ounce.
Since 19 September 2024, still and sparkling wine can also be sold in 568 ml bottles in Great Britain, often marketed as a “pint” of wine. Legally, though, the quantity is a metric 568 ml, so this is a new permitted bottle size rather than a new imperial exception.
Did the government consider allowing imperial-only sales?
Yes, in 2022, but it decided against changing the law. The consultation “Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales” ran from 3 June to 26 August 2022 and asked whether traders should have more freedom to use imperial units. The government’s response, published on 27 December 2023, analysed 100,938 valid responses.
| Preferred option | Share of responses |
|---|---|
| Keep the status quo (metric primary, imperial allowed alongside) | 81.1% |
| Metric only | 17.6% |
| More freedom to use imperial | 0.9% |
| Imperial only | 0.4% |
Together, 98.7% of respondents wanted metric to stay as either the main unit or the only unit. The government therefore made no legislative change and instead published guidance reminding businesses that they can already show imperial units next to metric ones.
Do the rules apply to online sellers and market stalls?
Yes. Any business selling goods by quantity in the UK must follow them, whether on a website, a market stall or a supermarket shelf. A product listing can say “500 g (1 lb 1.6 oz)” but should not describe a bag of sweets only as “1 lb”. Market traders selling loose produce must weigh on approved metric scales and display metric prices, with imperial prices optional.
Goods sold by number, such as six eggs or a dozen rolls, are not affected, because no unit of weight or volume is involved. Recipes, cookery books and conversations are not trade at all, so they can use cups, ounces or any unit the writer likes.
What happens if a trader breaks the rules?
Using an unlawful unit for trade is a criminal offence, enforced by local Trading Standards. In practice, officers usually start with advice and warnings, and prosecution is a last resort; Steve Thoburn was prosecuted only after earlier warnings. Courts can fine the trader and order unlawful equipment to be forfeited.
If you spot a sign priced only in pounds and ounces, the usual route is to mention it to the trader or report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service. If you simply want to compare prices, convert the figure yourself with the pounds to kilograms converter.
Frequently asked questions
Is it illegal to sell in pounds and ounces in the UK?
It is illegal to sell in pounds and ounces alone. You may show pounds and ounces next to a metric quantity or price, as long as the metric figure is the more prominent.
Can a market stall price fruit per pound?
Only if it also shows the price per kilogram, more prominently. The fruit must be weighed on approved scales that work in metric units.
Can a pub sell a pint?
Yes. Draught beer and cider are one of the few exceptions and must be sold in a third, half or two-thirds of a pint, or multiples of half a pint.
Did Brexit change the rules on imperial units?
Not in substance. A 2022 consultation led to no change in the law, and the government confirmed in December 2023 that metric would remain the primary unit for trade.
How many grams are in a pound?
One pound is exactly 453.59237 grams, usually rounded to 454 g on labels. One ounce is about 28.35 g.
Sources
- Weights and Measures Act 1985, section 8, legislation.gov.uk
- Choice on units of measurement: guidance on markings and sales, GOV.UK
- Choice on units of measurement: consultation response, GOV.UK, December 2023
- Units of measurement, Business Companion (Chartered Trading Standards Institute)
- Prepacked still and sparkling wine quantities, GOV.UK