Pound Abbreviation: Is it 1 lb or 1 lbs?

Understanding the Correct Abbreviation for a Single Pound

The correct abbreviation for pound when referring to a singular unit is lb

While some believe the plural form of pounds is lbs, it is not derived from the Latin word libra. Therefore, when expressing a single pound, you should always use lb without any modifications.

The Plural Form of Pound Abbreviation

When you are referring to multiple pounds in the plural form, the abbreviation becomes lbs. For example:

Examples

Thus, 1 lb is correct for a single pound, while 2 lbs is preferred when referring to two pounds. This follows the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) recommendation.

NIST Guidelines and Usage in Daily Life

According to NIST, the abbreviation for pounds should be treated as a symbol, without capitalization, no pluralization, and no period as part of the symbol. For instance, 1 lb for one pound, and 2 lbs for two pounds.

However, in the context of net content declaration on pre-packaged goods, the rules allow lb to be optionally capitalized, pluralized, and followed by a period. If you are writing a sentence that starts with a number followed by a unit of measurement, capitalize the first word of the measurement, as in 4 lb.

It is important to follow these guidelines to ensure consistency and clarity in your writing. In scientific use, lbs is not acceptable in any situation. In daily use, it is at best pointless and redundant, and at worst incorrect English usage.