How to Put Net Weight on a Food Label
Net weight is a small line that trips up a lot of new sellers. It has a required spot on the package and a required format. Here is how to get it right.
What net quantity means
Net quantity is how much food is in the package, not counting the jar, bag, or wrapper. It is the eight ounces of jam inside, not the jam plus the jar. Buyers use it to compare value, and it is a required element on almost every packaged food.
Where it goes on the package
Net quantity belongs on the front of the package, the part a shopper sees first, in the bottom 30 percent, set off from other text so it is easy to find. Keep it on its own line with a little space around it rather than buried in a paragraph.
Show both US and metric units
The standard is a dual declaration: the US customary unit and the metric unit together, for example Net Wt 8 oz (227 g). Solids sold by weight use ounces and pounds. Liquids sold by volume use fluid ounces and milliliters. Some products, like baked goods, add a count, such as 6 cookies.
Weight, volume, or count
- By weight: most solids, like cookies, granola, jam, or fudge. Use net weight in ounces or pounds plus grams.
- By volume: liquids, like maple syrup or a sauce. Use fluid ounces plus milliliters.
- By count with weight: items where the number matters, like 6 muffins, net wt 12 oz (340 g).
When in doubt for a solid, use net weight. Honey and jam go by weight, not by fluid volume, even though they pour.
Questions
Where does net weight go on a food label?
On the front of the package, the part a shopper sees first, in the bottom 30 percent, set apart from other text. Keeping it on its own line with space around it makes it easy for a buyer to find and keeps you consistent with standard packaging rules.
Do I need to show grams as well as ounces?
The standard is to show both: the US customary unit and the metric unit together, such as Net Wt 8 oz (227 g). Showing both keeps your label consistent with how packaged foods are normally marked and avoids confusion for buyers.
Keep reading
This page is general information, not legal advice. Cottage food and food labeling rules vary by state and change over time. Confirm current requirements with your state's cottage food program and the FDA before you sell. See your state's rules or how to label your product.