Net weight on a food label: placement, units and type size
FDA’s rule for the net quantity statement is 21 CFR 101.7. It says where the net weight goes on the package front, which units to use, how to write them, and how tall the letters must be. Here is each rule in plain English, with the text it comes from.
Example net weight line (fictional chocolate chip cookies from our examples)
Net Wt 8 oz (227 g)
On the package front (principal display panel), in the bottom 30%, bold, with letters at least as tall as the table below requires for your package size.
Last checked against the official text. Sources
Where the net weight goes
- On the principal display panel. “The principal display panel of a food in package form shall bear a declaration of the net quantity of contents” (101.7(a)). The principal display panel is the part of the label most likely to be shown or examined at retail, usually the front (21 CFR 101.1). If the package has more than one such panel, repeat it on each (101.7(e)).
- In the bottom 30%. “It shall be placed on the principal display panel within the bottom 30 percent of the area of the label panel in lines generally parallel to the base on which the package rests” (101.7(f)). Packages whose principal display panel is 5 square inches or less are exempt from the bottom-30% placement when the declaration meets the rest of the rule.
- As a distinct item, with clear space around it. Above and below: at least a space equal to the height of the lettering. Left and right: at least twice the width of the letter “N” in that type (101.7(f)).
- No exaggerating words. No terms such as “jumbo quart” or “full gallon” (101.7(f)).
Minimum letter height by package front size
The required height depends on the area of the principal display panel (101.7(i)):
| Principal display panel area | Minimum letter height | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 5 sq in or less | 1/16 inch | 21 CFR 101.7(i)(1) |
| More than 5, up to 25 sq in | 1/8 inch | 21 CFR 101.7(i)(2) |
| More than 25, up to 100 sq in | 3/16 inch | 21 CFR 101.7(i)(3) |
| More than 100, up to 400 sq in | 1/4 inch | 21 CFR 101.7(i)(4) |
| More than 400 sq in | 1/2 inch | 21 CFR 101.7(i)(4) |
- Measure the right letter. “When upper and lower case or all lower case letters are used, it is the lower case letter “o” or its equivalent that shall meet the minimum standards” (101.7(h)(2)). With all capitals, the capital letters must meet it.
- Fractions: each numeral of a fraction must be at least half the minimum height (101.7(h)(3)).
- Bold and easy to read, in distinct contrast to other matter on the package, and letters no more than 3 times as high as they are wide (101.7(h), (h)(1)).
How to measure the package front
From 21 CFR 101.1: for a rectangular package, height times width of the front. For a cylindrical container such as a jar, 40% of the height times the circumference. For other shapes, 40% of the total surface, unless the package has an obvious display panel, such as the top of a round box. Leave out tops, bottoms, flanges, and the shoulders and necks of bottles or jars.
Example: a bag with a 4 × 6 inch front is 24 sq in, so the net weight letters must be at least 1/8 inch tall.
Which units, and how to write them
- Weight for solids, fluid measure for liquids. Weight if the food is solid, semisolid or viscous, or a mix of solid and liquid; fluid measure if it is liquid (101.7(a)). Weight is in avoirdupois pounds and ounces (101.7(b)(1)).
- Say “net weight”. “The term “net weight” shall be used when stating the net quantity of contents in terms of weight” (101.7(j)(3)). FDA’s examples: “Net wt. 6 oz” or “6 oz Net wt.”. Allowed abbreviations include “wt”, “oz”, “lb” and “fl” (101.7(n)).
- Under 4 pounds: ounces first. Packages under 4 pounds are declared in ounces, and from 1 pound up the pounds follow in parentheses (101.7(j)(1)). FDA’s examples: 1½ pounds is “Net Wt. 24 oz (1 lb 8 oz),” “Net Wt. 24 oz (1 1/2 lb),” or “Net Wt. 24 oz (1.5 lb)”; three-fourths of a pound is “Net Wt. 12 oz” (101.7(m)(1), (m)(2)).
- 4 pounds or more: pounds, with any remainder in ounces or a fraction of a pound (101.7(k)).
- Fractions: common fractions in halves, quarters, eighths, sixteenths or thirty-seconds, reduced to lowest terms; decimals no more than two places (101.7(d)).
- Weigh the food, not the package. The declaration covers “the quantity of food in the package exclusive of wrappers and other material packed therewith” (101.7(g)).
- Count plus weight. If a count alone (“12 cookies”) doesn’t tell buyers how much food there is, add a weight or measure (101.7(c)).
Ounces and grams
FDA’s regulation allows an accurate metric statement on the label (101.7(p)). The federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act asks for both systems: the net quantity is stated “using the most appropriate units of both the customary inch/pound system of measure … and, except as provided in paragraph (3)(A)(ii) or paragraph (6) of this subsection, the SI metric system” (15 U.S.C. 1453(a)(2)). Those exceptions are random-weight packages ((a)(3)(A)(ii)) and “foods that are packaged at the retail store level” ((a)(6)).
Several states we cover ask for both units on cottage food labels, for example California, Michigan, Ohio and Oregon. Our label maker prints both, as in “Net Wt 8 oz (227 g)”.
Conversion: 1 ounce (avoirdupois) = 28.34952 grams (NIST SP 811, Appendix B.9). 8 oz × 28.34952 = 226.8 g, printed as 227 g.
Cottage food: your state may add rules
The rules above are federal. If you sell from a home kitchen, your state’s cottage food law decides what your label must show, and it can add its own requirements or set them differently. Our state pages for California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio and Oregon list the net quantity among the required elements, with the state’s own wording. Our Arizona and Texas pages don’t list it among their state’s required elements; ask your state agency what applies to you.
Always check your state page and your state agency before you print. Our state guides: Arizona · California · Florida · Georgia · Michigan · Ohio · Oregon · Texas. Another state? See cottage food labels.
Make the label
In our label maker you enter the net weight in ounces or grams and pick your package front size. It prints both units and sizes the net weight line to the minimum letter height for that size, and it can print the line as a separate sticker for the package front.
Open an example label in the toolStart a blank label
The label maker is free: clean PNG and PDF, no account, no watermark. No AI: it formats exactly what you enter, and you check the result. See more example labels, or let us do it: done-for-you labels, $39 →
Sources
Last checked . We read each of these official sources; quotes on this page are copied from them. Regulation text is from the eCFR (up to date as of October 19, 2026); U.S. Code text is the 2023 edition on govinfo.
- 21 CFR 101.7: declaration of net quantity of contents
- 21 CFR 101.1: principal display panel and how to measure its area
- 15 U.S.C. 1453: Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, statement of quantity (inch/pound and SI metric)
- NIST SP 811, Appendix B.9: conversion factors (ounce to gram)
This page explains federal rules in plain English. It is not legal advice, and FDA does not approve labels. Found something wrong? Contact us · How we verify