6 Household Items That Weigh About 10 Pounds

Your household contains many items that vary in weight. Have you ever found yourself looking around your house to find items that weigh close to or are 10 pounds? Well, a lot of the things you have in your house weigh about 10 pounds.

Why does this matter? If you look around your residence, you will probably have all, if not most, of the items in this list, whether you need them for a home workout or if you are avoiding lifting heavy things.

So, what weighs 10 pounds in your house? If you think about it, many of the items in your pantry, kitchen, appliances, pets, and even home office supplies probably weigh ten pounds. You might not carry these items around all day, but you definitely interact with them often. 

Some of these items work well as an approximate weight comparison, while others might be heavier or lighter. Whatever the case, these items will give you an estimation of what 10 pounds feels like.

So what common things in your house weigh 10 pounds?

1.  A holiday ham or turkey

Nothing draws people together as much as food does. Holidays are especially great because of family friends add food. It’s a chance to showcase your cooking skills and wow everyone. That’s why many people look forward to the main meal, which is often either a turkey or holiday ham. You have to make sure it’s big enough to feed your entire family and then some because everyone loves getting seconds.

A good-sized turkey weighing about 10 pounds takes about three to four hours to cook while a ham takes about three hours. Hams can be whole bone-in hams, weighing anywhere between 10 to 18 pounds, boneless ones, or spiral sliced ham weighing in at 7 to 10 pounds.  

2.  An average-sized pumpkin

Pumpkins are loved worldwide from being used as an ingredient in food to decorations, especially over Halloween. They are available in all shapes and sizes from small baby pam ones weighing about 4 pounds to others weighing over 25 pounds. There are giant pumpkins that weigh anywhere between 150 pounds to over a ton.

The biggest pumpkin in the world weighs about 2624 pounds (which we wrote more about in this article), but you won’t find that at your local store. The ones you will find there will vary in weight depending on the type you pick. For instance, the lantern pumpkin used to make jack-o-lanterns at Halloween, averagely weigh 7 to 11 pounds, while the typical face carving pumpkin weighs anywhere between 12 to 18 pounds.

3.  An adult cat

Cats are great pets. They make great companions and are fun to pet and play with. Because of these and other adorable features, cat love has skyrocketed over the years.

Now a lot more people own cats, not just old ladies. While playing with your cat at the end of the day is fun, have you ever held your cat for a long period? Well, don’t be surprised if you start feeling tired soon, this is because your little furry friend can weigh anywhere between 5 to a staggering 25 pounds. However, most healthy adult cats weigh about 10 pounds, but this could vary depending on the breed, how much they eat, and their gender.

4. A Small Dog

Perhaps you’re more of a dog person, in which case you can probably find a small dog that weighs 10 pounds. Of course, this won’t work with a Great Dane or other large dog breeds. However, there are plenty of smaller dog breeds with weight averages near or at 10 pounds.

Even some medium-sized dogs can weigh around 10 pounds when they’re a puppy. To determine the weight of a small dog, you can take them to the vet. You can also use the same steps as you would for weighing a cat at home.

While your dog’s weight will change, especially if they’re a puppy, you can use a small dog as a 10-pound weight for a short period. Some dog breeds that weigh about 10 pounds include Japanese Chins, Russell Terriers, and Pekingese. Other dogs weigh a little less or a little more than that.  You can see more dog averages here.

5.  1 ¼ gallon of milk

Milk has been enjoyed worldwide for thousands of years because of its great taste and nutritious benefits. That’s why its found in every home. By definition, milk is a nutrient-rich fluid produced by female mammals to feed their young.

There are many types of milk available from common types such as cow, sheep, or goat milk to more nouveau nondairy types such as soy, coconut, almond, and so on. Milk is full of vital nutrients, proteins, fats, antioxidants, and minerals.

Milk goes well with cookies, cereal, or by itself. A gallon of milk is about 8.6 pounds while a quart comes in at about 2.15 pounds rounding off to 10 pounds in total; about 20 glasses of milk.

6. Small Microwave

While not always the same weight, some small microwaves tip the scale at 10 pounds. Unlike pets, the weight of a microwave won’t change day to day. Also, the weight won’t decrease over time as you use the microwave.

Most homes have a microwave as it can be a useful appliance for quick meals. Of course, some microwaves are larger than others, and large ones will weigh much more than 10 pounds.

However, if you ever have surgery and can’t lift items weighing more than 10 pounds, you will know to avoid your microwave. Sure, moving your microwave isn’t something you often do, but it’s good to know in case you ever have restrictions on what you can and can’t lift.

7. A Traditional Vacuum Cleaner

Another common household item that weighs about 10 pounds is a traditional vacuum cleaner. Now, this doesn’t include the new wireless, stick vacuums since those can be much lighter. However, the 10-pound rule can apply to older, traditional vacuums with bags.

If you’ve ever struggled to move a traditional vacuum around, it can be a relief to know that it really is that heavy. Not to mention that the shape of a vacuum doesn’t help when you need to move it, especially up or down the stairs. However, an old vacuum can be a great tool when comparing other items to 10 pounds.

A vacuum won’t change weight like a pet, and while it may weigh more or less based on the contents of the bag, that’s something you can control. If you find that your vacuum is closer to 10 pounds with an empty bag, you can make sure to empty it when you need to use it as a weight.

8.  A large bag of flour

Flour is a baking essential and is used to make a lot of the food you eat at home from bread, cakes, and pastries to gravy and so much more, making it a staple in every home.

There are different types of flour, such as all-purpose flour, self-raising flour, which has leavening agents added in, hard flour, and many more. Flour often comes prepackaged in 2-pound or 5-pound bags; however, you can find 10-pound ones if you are looking for a large bag of flour; this is about 36 cups of flour.

9. A Gallon of Paint

If you don’t have any pets on hand, you’re not out of luck when it comes to 10-pound things. One somewhat common item you can find weighing 10 pounds is a gallon of paint. You can find a gallon of paint at your local hardware or home repair store.

Whether you want to repaint a room in your house or want some paint to have on hand for quick repairs, a full gallon is a good option. As long as you don’t use up the paint, the weight won’t change like it would with a dog or cat. This means that it can be a better option for comparing weights over a long period.

Of course, using up the paint will reduce its weight. However, the weight of a full gallon is stable and consistent. Plus, you can move the gallon and won’t have to worry about it squirming out of your hands as an animal would.

10. Certain Bowling Balls

Most people don’t own bowling balls, but many people know that they come in a variety of weights. However, that variety includes 10 pounds, so it’s easy enough to find a bowling ball that’s not too heavy and not too light. What’s more, many bowling balls have the weight printed on the side.

The next time you’re at the bowling alley, test out a 10-pound bowling ball. You don’t have to use it for each round, but it can be an excellent way to familiarize yourself with what 10 pounds feel like. If you want to use a bowling ball to compare weights at home, you can buy one for yourself.

Remember, though, bowling balls are round, which means that they can roll around if you aren’t careful. If you need to compare the weight, make sure you keep the ball steady so that you can get an accurate comparison for the other item.

11.  Three 2-liter bottles of soda

Anytime you go to a store, you will see sodas in 2-liter bottles. These soft drinks are another staple item found in many homes and come in various flavors such as grape, lemon, orange, and strawberry.

Sodas are referred to as soft drinks because they don’t contain any alcohol. Unlike milk, water, and other drinks, soda is sold in liters, not gallons. This is because the plastic soda bottle was invented around the time the US contemplated converting to the metric system. So, the 2-liter soda bottles were introduced instead of the half-gallon bottles. While the move to metric fizzled out, consumers liked the bottle, so it stayed. A 2-litter bottle weighs about 4.4 pounds, so three of them would weigh about 13.2 pounds.

Depending on the item, 10 pounds can be quite heavy to carry. Three bottles of soda or 1 ¼ gallon of milk might seem light, but they weigh just the same as a 10-pound bag of flour or a holiday turkey.

Luckily you don’t need to lug these items everywhere you go. While this is not a complete list of all 10-pound household items, it gives you a rough idea of what 10-pounds looks like.