Net Weight Statement Requirements

The net quantity statement lives on the front of your package, not on the Nutrition Facts panel — and it has its own placement and size rules. One sourcing note up front: the governing regulation is 21 CFR 101.7; many older articles cite "101.105", a section number that no longer exists (redesignated in 2016).

Placement: bottom 30%

The net quantity goes on the principal display panel — the front — "within the bottom 30 percent of the area of the label panel", in lines generally parallel to the base (101.7(f)). Packages with a front panel of 5 square inches or less are exempt from the bottom-30% positioning.

No embellishing words: "jumbo quart" and friends are explicitly prohibited.

Both unit systems

The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (15 U.S.C. 1453(a)(2)) requires the quantity in both US customary and metric units: "Net Wt 12 oz (340g)". For weights of a pound or more, the ounce breakdown is also shown: "Net Wt 24 oz (1 lb 8 oz) 680g".

Minimum type size scales with the package

Per 101.7(i), the minimum height of the numbers depends on the front panel's area:

Principal display panel	Minimum type height
≤5 sq in	1/16 inch
5–25 sq in	1/8 inch
25–100 sq in	3/16 inch
100–400 sq in	1/4 inch
>400 sq in	1/2 inch

Letters can't be more than three times taller than wide, and the measurement is based on the lowercase "o".

For home producers

Cottage food programs consistently require net weight too — and several states (California, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio among our covered ten) explicitly expect the metric equivalent alongside ounces. Weigh the finished, packaged product — not the batter.