Gold Weight Units Explained: Tola, Vori, Baht & More
Gold isn't always weighed in grams. Across South and Southeast Asia, jewellers and families still price gold in traditional units โ the tola in India and Pakistan, the vori (bhori) in Bangladesh, and the baht in Thailand. If you're comparing a jeweller's quote to the international spot price, or converting a gift of gold from one country's units to another, you need an exact conversion โ not a rough guess.
1. Conversion Factors (Exact)
| Unit | Region | Grams |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Tola | India, Pakistan | 11.6638038 g |
| 1 Vori / Bhori | Bangladesh | 11.6638 g |
| 1 Baht | Thailand | 15.244 g |
| 1 Troy Ounce | International | 31.1034768 g |
| 1 Masha | India, Pakistan | 0.972 g |
| 1 Ratti | India, Pakistan | 0.1215 g |
2. Why Isn't a Vori the Same as a Baht?
Both India's tola and Bangladesh's vori descend from the same British Indian colonial weight standard, which is why they're numerically identical (11.6638 g). Thailand's baht gold-weight system developed independently and is roughly 31% heavier than a tola โ it's a completely separate historical standard, and the two should never be assumed interchangeable.
3. Tola vs Troy Ounce
International gold prices (including "spot price") are always quoted per troy ounce, not per tola. One troy ounce is about 2.667 tola. When comparing a jeweller's tola-based quote to the international spot rate, always convert to a common unit first โ this tool does that automatically using live gold pricing.
4. Masha and Ratti: The Smaller Units
For small quantities โ a thin bangle, a nose pin, a religious offering โ jewellers in India and Pakistan often use masha (12 masha = 1 tola) and ratti (8 ratti = 1 masha, 96 ratti = 1 tola), based on traditional seed-weight measures standardized to fixed gram values.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grams is 1 tola of gold?
1 tola equals 11.6638038 grams. Jewellers in India and Pakistan commonly round this to 11.664 grams for everyday billing.
Is a Bangladeshi vori the same as a tola?
Yes. The vori (or bhori) used in Bangladesh is the same unit as the South Asian tola, standardized at 11.6638 grams, since both trace back to the British Indian weight system.
How many grams is 1 baht of gold in Thailand?
1 baht (the Thai gold-trading unit, distinct from the Thai currency) equals 15.244 grams. It is a separate standard from the South Asian tola.
How do I convert grams to tola for gold?
Divide the weight in grams by 11.6638. For example, 100 grams of gold equals 100 / 11.6638 = 8.573 tola.
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