Abstract: A method for determining the quantity of items in a container is described, where each item has the same nominal weight located between upper and lower weight limits. The method comprises the following steps: (a) attempting to pack a pre-determined quantity, n, of the items to the container, the predetermined quantity, n, being selected such that the product of (n+1) and the lower weight limit exceeds the product of n and the upper weight limit and such that the product of n and the lower weight limit exceeds the product of (n?1) and the upper weight limit; (b) measuring the weight of the actual quantity of items packed in the container in step (a); and, (c) dividing the value of the weight ascertained in step (b) by the nominal weight to determine the actual quantity of items packed in the container in step (a).