Net quantity of contents declaration.

What 21 CFR 101.7 covers

Section 101.7 is the FDA rule for the "declaration of net quantity of contents" on a food in package form. It says what the statement is measured in, where it sits on the package, how large and how prominent the lettering must be, how the unit conversions are written, and how multiunit packages are described. The text here is the eCFR version current through October 29, 2026. The section's history runs from 42 FR 14308 (March 15, 1977), and it was redesignated at 81 FR 59131 (August 29, 2016).

Weight, measure or count: paragraph (a)

The declaration is expressed in terms of weight, measure, numerical count, or a combination of count and weight or measure. The statement is in fluid measure if the food is liquid, in weight if the food is solid, semisolid or viscous, or a mixture of solid and liquid, and dry measure may be used for fresh fruit, fresh vegetables or other dry commodities customarily sold that way. Paragraph (b) fixes the units: avoirdupois pounds and ounces, the U.S. gallon of 231 cubic inches with its quart, pint and fluid ounce subdivisions, and the U.S. bushel of 2,150.42 cubic inches for dry measure. Liquid volume is stated at the temperature the food is sold at: the frozen volume for frozen food sold and eaten frozen, 40 F (4 C) for refrigerated food sold refrigerated, and 68 F (20 C) otherwise. Paragraph (c) adds that a count alone is not enough when it does not give adequate information, so it must be paired with weight, measure or size.

Where it goes and how it looks: paragraphs (e) to (i)

• Location (e), (f). On the principal display panel, duplicated on each principal panel if there are alternates, as a distinct item, within the bottom 30 percent of the panel area, in lines generally parallel to the base. Packages with a panel of 5 square inches or less are excused from the bottom-30-percent placement.
• Separation (f). A space at least equal to the lettering height above and below, and at least twice the width of the letter "N" to the left and right.
• No exaggeration (f). The statement may not include a qualifier such as "jumbo quart" or "full gallon."
• Legibility (h). Conspicuous, easily legible boldface type in distinct contrast to other matter; letter height no more than three times its width; fractions use numerals at least half the minimum height.

Paragraph (i) ties the minimum letter height to the area of the principal display panel:

For a statement blown, embossed or molded on glass or plastic rather than printed, the sizes increase by 1/16 inch. For lower case or mixed case lettering, the lower case letter "o" is the measuring letter under (h)(2).

Ounces first: paragraphs (j) and (k)

On packages under 4 pounds or 1 gallon labeled by weight or fluid measure, the declaration is in ounces, identified as weight or liquid measure, followed in parentheses by pounds (for 1 pound or more) or by the largest whole units of quarts and pints (for 1 pint or more), with any remainder in ounces or common or decimal fractions. The term "net weight" must be used for weight; "net" or "net contents" is optional for fluid measure and count. On packages of 4 pounds or 1 gallon or more, the statement is in pounds with any remainder in ounces or fractions, or in the largest whole fluid unit (gallons) followed by a fraction or the next smaller units. Paragraph (m) gives examples, including "Net Wt. 24 oz (1 lb 8 oz)," "Net Wt. 12 oz," "Net 32 fl oz (1 qt)," and "Net contents 56 fluid ounces (1 quart 1 1/2 pints)." Only these abbreviations may be used: wt, oz, lb, gal, pt, qt and fl, with optional periods and plurals (paragraph (n)).

Worked example

A 24-ounce jar of sauce sits on a front panel measuring 8 inches by 7.5 inches, an area of 60 square inches. Paragraph (i)(3) puts that in the "more than 25 up to 100 square inches" band, so the net quantity letters must be at least 3/16 inch tall. A 24-ounce weight is under 4 pounds and at least 1 pound, so the pattern from (j)(1) is ounces first and pounds in parentheses: "Net Wt 24 oz (1 lb 8 oz)." A 56 fluid ounce juice carton is under 1 gallon and over 1 pint, so the statement shows 56 fluid ounces followed by quarts and pints in parentheses. The calculator above applies exactly these bands and patterns.

Multiunit packages and tolerances

Paragraph (s) covers a multiunit retail package: the outside shows the number of units, the quantity of each, and in parentheses the total in ounces, as in "6-16 oz bottles (96 fl oz)." Paragraph (q) requires an accurate declaration but recognizes reasonable variations from moisture loss or gain in good distribution practice and unavoidable manufacturing deviations; variations "shall not be unreasonably large." A separate metric statement is permitted on the principal display panel or elsewhere under (p).

Limits of this page

The checker does not measure the panel for you, does not handle random-weight, pressurized container (g), pickle (r) or standard-of-fill situations, and does not replace reading the full section. Paragraph (i) in the printed text refers to "paragraphs (h)(1) through (4)" for the glass or plastic increase; this page reports the sentence as printed.

Sources

Sources opened and read November 2, 2026.

• eCFR: 21 CFR 101.7, Declaration of net quantity of contents (current through October 29, 2026) (read November 2, 2026)
• eCFR: 21 CFR part 101, Food labeling (read November 2, 2026)