Retail flower in the US is usually sold by the gram, eighth (3.5 g), quarter (7 g), half (14 g), and ounce (28 g). Delivery apps and prepackaged jars make the ounce easy to buy, but the menu price is rarely the final cost. Set a target price per ounce before you browse, then adjust for taxes, fees, and product tier.
Set your ceiling before you shop
- Write down your maximum total cost for 28 grams, not the menu price.
- Pick two product tiers you would actually smoke, such as value smalls and mid-shelf flower.
- Compare the out-the-door price per gram, then multiply by 28.
Parameters that move cannabis price per ounce
- Net weight and packaging: confirm 28 g net flower, not 28 g including the jar or stems.
- Flower grade: outdoor, greenhouse, indoor, smalls, and hand-trimmed tops carry different prices.
- Potency and freshness: THC percentage and harvest date affect value more than a premium label.
- Taxes: state excise tax, sales tax, and local add-ons stack on the menu price.
- Convenience fees: delivery fee, service fee, minimum order, and tip.
- Purchase channel: licensed store pickup, delivery, or medical dispensary pricing.
Pitfalls that hide the real per-ounce cost
- An ounce special with a low menu price but a required add-on purchase.
- A delivery fee of $5 to $15 that raises a $120 ounce by more than 10 percent.
- Discounts that apply only to full-price items, not the ounce you want.
- Old harvest dates on bulk flower sold at a convenience markup.
- Comparing a 28 g ounce to a 14 g half at the same per-gram rate without checking package weight.
Compare two ounces step by step
- Record the menu price for 28 g of each product.
- Add the state and local tax rate shown at checkout.
- Add delivery or service fees and a tip, if applicable.
- Divide the total by 28 to get the real cost per gram.
- Multiply by 28 to confirm the total per-ounce cost.
- Check the package net weight and harvest date before you pay.
Convenience has a measurable price. A $100 ounce with $12 in tax and an $8 delivery fee costs $120, or $4.29 per gram. The same ounce at a store 10 minutes away with $12 tax costs $112, or $4.00 per gram. If delivery saves you a trip and the flower is fresh, the extra $8 may be worth it. If the ounce is old or the THC is low, it is not.
When convenience wins
Pay for delivery when the total per-ounce cost stays under your ceiling, the package weight is clear, and the harvest date is recent. Skip it when the fee pushes a value ounce into mid-shelf pricing or when the menu hides the net weight.