Gold units in Pakistan at a glance
In Pakistan, gold is priced and weighed in tola, masha and ratti. Banks, international markets and gold CFDs use grams and troy ounces. If you want to compare a sarafa (bullion market) rate with an international price, or check a jeweller's bill, you need to convert between these units.
The calculator below converts tola to gram and back. It also gives the value of a weight of gold at a price you type in, and adjusts for purity.
Fill in the empty fields to see the result.
| Karat | Fineness, ‰ | Price per gram at this purity |
|---|
Value = grams × purity (karat / 24) × price per gram of pure gold. 1 troy ounce = 31.1035 g, 1 tola = 11.6638 g, 1 baht = 15.244 g, 1 luong = 37.5 g. Shops add making charges and buy back below the selling price.
Enter the weight, choose the unit (gram, troy ounce, tola and others), set the purity, and type the rate you were quoted. The tool uses the standard conversion factors, so you do not need to work them out by hand.
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What tola, masha and ratti are
These are old South Asian weight units that are still in daily use in the gold trade.
- Tola: the main unit. Sarafa associations publish gold rates per tola, and most people say what a jewellery set weighs in tola.
- Masha: a smaller unit. A tola is divided into a fixed number of masha.
- Ratti: the smallest unit. Each masha is divided into a fixed number of ratti. The name comes from a seed that was once used as a counterweight on jewellers' scales.
So the order from largest to smallest is tola → masha → ratti. Jewellers often write a weight in all three, for example "so many tola, so many masha, so many ratti", instead of using decimals.
Tola, masha and ratti conversion table
| Unit | Relation | Where you see it | How to convert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tola | Base traditional unit | Sarafa rates, jewellery bills | Calculator: tola ↔ gram |
| Masha | Fixed fraction of a tola | Jewellers' weight slips | Ask for the gram weight, then use the calculator |
| Ratti | Fixed fraction of a masha | Small pieces, gemstones, old bills | Ask for the gram weight, then use the calculator |
| Gram | Metric unit | Digital scales, banks, imports | Calculator: gram ↔ tola |
| Troy ounce | International precious-metals unit | World gold price, XAUUSD | Calculator: troy oz ↔ tola |
For exact figures, use the calculator instead of a remembered rule of thumb. Rounding a tola to a "round" number of grams causes small errors, and on a large purchase those errors add up.
Why the exact conversion matters
Checking a jeweller's bill
Most shops now weigh gold on a digital scale that shows grams. The bill may still show tola, masha and ratti. Ask the shop to show you the gram reading on the scale. Then enter that weight in grams in the calculator, select tola, and compare.
If the two numbers do not match, ask how the shop converted the weight. Some older traders round masha and ratti differently. Before you agree on a price, confirm which conversion the shop uses.
Comparing local and international prices
International gold is quoted in US dollars per troy ounce. A troy ounce is not the same as an ordinary (avoirdupois) ounce, and it is not the same as a tola. To compare the world price with a local per-tola rate:
- Convert the troy-ounce price to rupees at the current exchange rate. See SBP exchange rates.
- Convert the weight from troy ounces to tola in the calculator.
- Adjust for purity. The international price refers to pure gold, while jewellery is usually lower purity.
The local rate rarely equals this result exactly. Import costs, duties, dealer margins and local demand all affect it. How gold rate is set explains these factors.
Purity and weight together
Weight alone does not tell you how much gold you have. A tola of jewellery at a lower karat contains less pure gold than a tola of high-purity bullion. The calculator's purity setting handles this. The different grades are explained on gold purity grades (karats).
Where the rates come from
The daily per-tola gold rate in Pakistan is announced by sarafa (bullion) associations, and shops usually follow it. Rates can differ between cities and change during the day. Rules on gold taxation are set by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
This page does not show a live rate. When you need a current figure, check the sarafa association's announcement for that day and note the date. For tax rules, check the current FBR notification. For context, see Gold in Pakistan and Gold and tax.
Selling, zakat and making charges
- Selling jewellery: shops usually weigh the piece again, deduct for impurities or stones, and pay at their buying rate. That rate is often below the selling rate. See Making charges and resale.
- Zakat: the nisab threshold is usually stated in tola. To check whether your gold reaches it, convert all pieces to the same unit first. See Zakat on gold and ask a qualified scholar about your own case.
- Silver: silver is also priced per tola in Pakistan, and the same units apply. See Silver rate per tola.
Gold units and gold trading
Gold CFDs such as XAUUSD are quoted per troy ounce, and contract sizes are set in ounces, not tola. If you think in tola, convert first so that you understand the real exposure behind a position. Leveraged CFD trading can lose money fast, and losses can exceed what you expected. SBP and SECP statements about offshore platforms are summarised on Law and regulators. For the market side, see Metals and Risk management.
Frequent questions
How many grams is a tola of gold?
A tola has a fixed metric equivalent that is slightly above a whole number of grams. Use the calculator on this page for the exact figure. Rounding it introduces errors on larger amounts.
How do masha and ratti relate to a tola?
A tola is divided into masha, and each masha is divided into ratti, each by a fixed number. For accurate checks, ask the jeweller for the gram weight and convert it with the calculator.
Is a tola the same as a troy ounce?
No. A troy ounce is heavier than a tola. The calculator converts between them directly.
Do all shops convert tola the same way?
The tola has a standard metric value, but some traders round masha and ratti differently. Confirm the shop's conversion and compare it with the gram reading on the scale.
Where can I see today's tola rate?
Check the current announcement by the sarafa association in your city and note the date. Rates change during the day and can differ between cities.
Can I use the calculator for jewellery?
Yes. Enter the weight, set the purity of the piece, and type the rate you were quoted. Making charges and stones are not included, so ask the shop about those separately.