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Cups to Grams Converter

Convert cups to grams and grams to cups for 30 cooking ingredients. Quick fraction buttons, ingredient selector, and reference table.

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Cups to grams converter. Ingredient-specific weight for every cup measurement.
A cups to grams converter translates volume measurements into weight by applying the specific density of each ingredient. It covers over 30 common cooking and baking ingredients bidirectionally, so one cup of flour (125 g) converts differently from one cup of sugar (200 g) or butter (227 g).

What Is a Cups to Grams Conversion?

A cups to grams conversion translates a volume measurement (cups) into a weight measurement (grams) for a specific ingredient. Because every ingredient has a different density, 1 cup of flour does not weigh the same as 1 cup of sugar or 1 cup of butter. One cup of all-purpose flour weighs approximately 125 g, one cup of granulated sugar weighs about 200 g, and one cup of butter weighs roughly 227 g.
This distinction matters because professional bakers and recipe developers worldwide rely on weight-based measurements for accuracy. Volume measurements like cups can vary by up to 30% depending on how tightly an ingredient is packed, whether you scooped or spooned it, and even ambient humidity. A kitchen scale eliminates that guesswork, but you first need to know the gram equivalent for the cup measurement in your recipe.
Our cups to grams converter covers over 30 common cooking and baking ingredients, from flours and sugars to liquids, dairy, nuts, and oils. It works bidirectionally: enter cups to get grams, or enter grams to get cups.

How to Convert Cups to Grams

To convert cups to grams, multiply the number of cups by the ingredient's density in grams per cup. The formula is straightforward, but the density value changes for every ingredient.
Here is the step-by-step process:
1. Identify the ingredient you are converting (e.g., all-purpose flour).
2. Look up the ingredient's weight per cup. For all-purpose flour, 1 cup = 125 g.
3. Multiply the number of cups by that weight. For example, 2.5 cups of flour = 2.5 x 125 = 312.5 g.
To convert in the reverse direction (grams to cups), divide the weight in grams by the ingredient's grams-per-cup value. For example, 500 g of granulated sugar divided by 200 g/cup = 2.5 cups.
Keep in mind that the standard US cup used in American recipes equals 236.588 mL. The metric cup used in Australia and some other countries equals 250 mL. Our converter uses the US cup by default, which is the standard for recipes published in the United States.

Cups to Grams Formula

W=C×DW = C \times D
  • WW = Weight in grams
  • CC = Volume in cups
  • DD = Density of the ingredient in grams per cup
The density value (D) is specific to each ingredient. Here are some of the most commonly searched values:
- All-purpose flour: 125 g/cup - Bread flour: 130 g/cup - Cake flour: 114 g/cup - Granulated sugar: 200 g/cup - Powdered sugar: 120 g/cup - Brown sugar (packed): 220 g/cup - Butter: 227 g/cup - Milk: 245 g/cup - Water: 237 g/cup - Honey: 340 g/cup - Rolled oats: 90 g/cup - Cocoa powder: 86 g/cup - Rice (uncooked): 185 g/cup
These values assume the ingredient is measured using the "spoon and level" method, where you spoon the ingredient into the cup and level off the top with a flat edge. Scooping directly from a bag can pack the ingredient more tightly and add 15-20% extra weight.

Cups to Grams Conversion Examples

Converting a Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

A classic chocolate chip cookie recipe calls for 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of butter, 3/4 cup of granulated sugar, and 3/4 cup of packed brown sugar. Using our converter:
- 2.25 cups of flour = 2.25 x 125 = 281 g - 1 cup of butter = 227 g - 0.75 cups of granulated sugar = 0.75 x 200 = 150 g - 0.75 cups of packed brown sugar = 0.75 x 220 = 165 g
Weighing these ingredients instead of using cup measures ensures your cookies come out consistently every time, regardless of how compacted your flour bag is.

Scaling a Banana Bread Recipe by Half

Your banana bread recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of flour, but you only want to make half the recipe. Half of 1.5 cups is 0.75 cups, which is an awkward volume measurement. Converting to grams makes it cleaner: 1.5 cups of flour = 188 g, so half is simply 94 g. Similarly, if the recipe calls for 1/3 cup of melted butter (76 g), halving gives you 38 g. A digital kitchen scale handles these odd fractions effortlessly.

Converting Grams Back to Cups from a European Recipe

A French pastry recipe calls for 300 g of all-purpose flour. To convert back to cups: 300 / 125 = 2.4 cups. Since most American measuring cup sets don't include a 0.4 cup measure, you could measure 2 cups plus roughly 6.5 tablespoons (since 1 tablespoon of flour = about 8 g, and 0.4 cups = 50 g). This shows why gram measurements are more precise for baking.

Tips for Accurate Cup to Gram Conversions

  • Always use the "spoon and level" method when measuring flour by cup. Spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a knife. Scooping directly from the bag can add 20% or more extra flour, which makes baked goods dense and dry.
  • Invest in a digital kitchen scale that reads in grams. Scales accurate to 1 g are available for under $15 and will transform your baking consistency. Once you start weighing ingredients, you will never go back to cups.
  • Pack brown sugar firmly into the cup when a recipe says "packed." Light brown sugar and dark brown sugar have nearly identical weights per cup (about 220 g), but the packing method matters significantly.
  • For sticky ingredients like honey, peanut butter, or molasses, lightly grease the measuring cup first or use weight instead. One cup of honey weighs 340 g, significantly more than sugar or flour because of its high density.
  • Remember that the US cup (236.588 mL) differs from the metric cup (250 mL) used in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. If you are following an Australian recipe, the gram values will differ by about 6%.
  • When converting fractional cups (1/3, 2/3, 3/4), converting to grams first and then measuring on a scale is more accurate than trying to eyeball partial cup measures.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cups to Grams

How many grams are in 1 cup of flour?

One cup of all-purpose flour weighs approximately 125 grams when measured using the spoon-and-level method. Bread flour is slightly heavier at about 130 g per cup, while cake flour is lighter at around 114 g per cup. If you scoop flour directly from the bag, you may get 140-160 g per cup because the flour gets compressed, which can throw off a recipe.

How many grams are in 1 cup of sugar?

One cup of granulated white sugar weighs approximately 200 grams. Powdered (confectioners') sugar is lighter at about 120 g per cup because of the added cornstarch and airy texture. Packed brown sugar weighs approximately 220 g per cup. These differences mean you cannot use a single conversion factor for all types of sugar.

How many grams are in 1 cup of butter?

One cup of butter weighs approximately 227 grams, which equals 8 ounces or 2 standard sticks of butter in the US. A half-cup (1 stick) is about 113.5 g. Since butter sticks in the US are pre-marked with tablespoon lines, butter is one of the easiest ingredients to measure accurately by volume.

Why does 1 cup of different ingredients weigh different amounts?

Because a cup is a volume measurement, not a weight measurement. Different ingredients have different densities. Honey is thick and heavy (340 g/cup), flour is light and airy (125 g/cup), and water falls in between (237 g/cup). This is exactly why professional bakers prefer weighing ingredients in grams rather than measuring by volume.

Can I use a single cups-to-grams number for all ingredients?

No. Using a universal conversion factor would produce highly inaccurate results. For example, 1 cup of water weighs 237 g while 1 cup of rolled oats weighs only 90 g. That is a 163% difference for the same volume. Always use the ingredient-specific density value. Our converter includes over 30 ingredients with their exact densities.

What is the difference between a US cup and a metric cup?

A US customary cup equals 236.588 mL, while a metric cup (used in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada) equals exactly 250 mL. This is a 5.7% difference. If you are following an Australian recipe and using US cups, your measurements will be slightly short. For precise results, check which cup standard the recipe uses.

How do I convert cups to grams without a scale?

If you don't have a scale, you can use a conversion chart to estimate the gram equivalent and then measure carefully using standard measuring cups with the spoon-and-level method. However, the most reliable way to achieve gram-level accuracy is with a digital kitchen scale. Basic kitchen scales cost under $15 and are the single best investment for consistent baking.

Does sifting flour change the cups-to-grams conversion?

Yes. Sifted flour is lighter and more aerated, so 1 cup of sifted flour weighs only about 115 g compared to 125 g for unsifted flour (spoon-and-level). If a recipe says "1 cup sifted flour," sift first, then measure the cup. If it says "1 cup flour, sifted," measure the cup first, then sift. The order matters and produces different weights.

Key Terms

Cup (US Customary)

A unit of volume equal to 236.588 milliliters, commonly used in American cooking and baking recipes.

Gram

A metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram. The standard unit for measuring ingredients by weight in most of the world.

Density

The mass of a substance per unit volume. In cooking, density determines how much an ingredient weighs per cup, tablespoon, or other volume measure.

Spoon and Level Method

A measuring technique where you spoon an ingredient into a measuring cup and level the top with a straight edge. This produces more consistent results than scooping directly from a container.

Metric Cup

A unit of volume equal to exactly 250 milliliters, used in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. It is about 5.7% larger than a US cup.

Tare

The function on a kitchen scale that resets the reading to zero after placing a bowl on it, allowing you to weigh only the ingredient added.

Packed

A measurement instruction meaning the ingredient should be firmly pressed into the measuring cup to remove air pockets. Commonly used for brown sugar.