What Is a Tola? History and Origin of the Gold Measurement Unit
A tola is a traditional unit of mass, equal to exactly 11.6638038 grams, used across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal — primarily to weigh and price gold and silver. If you've ever heard someone quote a gold rate "per tola" instead of "per gram" or "per ounce," this is the unit they mean.
Where the tola comes from
The tola has roots in the historic South Asian system of weights, originally defined as the weight of a silver rupee coin under British colonial administration in the 19th century. It was standardized at 180 grains (a grain being a very old, tiny unit of mass originally based on the weight of a single grain of barley), which works out to 11.6638038 grams. The unit survived the transition to the metric system across the region because it remained deeply embedded in how gold and jewellery are bought, sold, and talked about at the household level.
Why Pakistan still uses tola for gold
Even though Pakistan officially uses the metric system, the tola remains the default unit for gold pricing in everyday conversation, jewellery shops, and even many official rate announcements from associations like the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems & Jewellers Association. Gram-based pricing exists too (and is increasingly common for smaller purchases), but "rate per tola" is still the figure most people recognize instantly.
Tola vs. other regional units
You may also come across the vori (used in Bangladesh, effectively the same as a tola) and the masha (a smaller traditional unit, 1/12th of a tola). Internationally, gold is priced in troy ounces (31.1034768 grams), which is why converting between troy ounces and tola is one of the most common calculations anyone tracking gold prices in Pakistan needs to do — see our full conversion guide for the exact factors.
Quick facts
| Unit | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 Masha | 0.9720 g |
| 1 Tola | 11.6638 g |
| 1 Vori (Bangladesh) | 11.6638 g |
| 1 Troy Ounce | 31.1035 g |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grams are in one tola?
One tola equals exactly 11.6638038 grams.
Is a tola the same as a vori?
Yes — the vori used in Bangladesh is numerically the same weight as a tola, 11.6638038 grams.
Why is gold still priced in tola instead of grams in Pakistan?
Tola pricing is a long-standing convention rooted in the region's traditional weight system, and it remains the unit most buyers and jewellers recognize instantly, even though gram-based pricing is also used for smaller quantities.