π§ Cups to Grams Converter
Accurate cup-to-weight conversions for 50+ ingredients using real densities.
Result
Quick Reference: 1 US Cup in Grams
| Ingredient | 1 cup (g) | Ingredient | 1 cup (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 125 | Granulated sugar | 200 |
| Bread flour | 130 | Brown sugar (packed) | 220 |
| Cake flour | 115 | Powdered sugar | 120 |
| Butter | 227 | Honey | 340 |
| Cocoa powder | 100 | Rolled oats | 90 |
| Milk | 245 | Vegetable oil | 218 |
How to Use This Converter
Cups measure volume, grams measure weight, and the bridge between them is density, which changes with every ingredient. A cup of flour weighs about 125 grams while a cup of honey weighs 340 grams. Pick your ingredient from the dropdown, enter the amount, choose the direction, and get an instant conversion backed by published density tables.
Select your ingredient. The list covers flours, sugars, fats, liquids, and common add-ins.
Enter the amount and choose Cups to Grams or Grams to Cups.
Read the result. The panel also shows tablespoons and ounces for the same quantity.
Why Cups and Grams Disagree
A US cup is always 236.588 milliliters. What varies is how much stuff fits in that space. Sifted flour packs loosely at about 0.53 g/ml, while honey is dense at 1.44 g/ml. That is why generic "1 cup = 128 grams" charts fail: they assume one density for everything. Professional bakers weigh ingredients because 20 grams of extra flour (a heavy-handed scoop) can turn a tender cake dry.
Brown sugar is the trickiest common ingredient because "packed" versus "loose" changes its density by 30 percent or more. This converter uses the packed value (220 g/cup), the standard in US recipes. Powdered sugar looks light but settles, so sift before measuring if the recipe was developed with sifted cups.
Key Reference Values
Water is the baseline at 1 g/ml, so 1 cup of water weighs 236.6 grams. Milk is slightly denser (1.03), oils are lighter (0.92), and dry goods vary widely. The converter stores a per-ingredient grams-per-cup value compiled from USDA and King Arthur Baking reference data, then applies the formula above.
Worked Example
A recipe calls for 2.5 cups of all-purpose flour but your scale only reads grams. Flour is 125 g per cup: 2.5 Γ 125 = 312.5 grams. Going the other way, 340 grams of honey at 340 g per cup is exactly 1 cup. For butter, US sticks make this easy: 1 cup = 227 grams = 2 sticks = 16 tablespoons.
Tips for Accurate Baking
Weigh everything when precision matters, especially flour and leaveners. Spoon flour into the cup and level it rather than scooping from the bag, which compacts it and can add 20 percent. For sticky ingredients like honey, lightly oil the cup first. And remember that altitude, humidity, and brand all nudge densities slightly, so treat conversions as accurate to about Β±2 percent, plenty for home baking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grams are in a cup of flour?
About 125 grams for all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled). Bread flour is slightly denser at 130 g per cup, and cake flour is lighter at 115 g per cup. Scooping directly from the bag can pack in up to 150 grams.
How many grams are in a cup of sugar?
Granulated sugar is 200 grams per cup. Packed brown sugar is 220 grams, and powdered (confectioners) sugar is only 120 grams per cup because it is so airy.
Is a US cup the same as a metric cup?
No. A US legal cup is 236.588 ml, while a metric cup (used in Australia and many international recipes) is 250 ml, about 6 percent larger. This converter uses US cups.
Why do recipes use grams instead of cups?
Weight is more precise and repeatable. A cup of flour can vary by 20 percent depending on how it is scooped, while 125 grams is always 125 grams. Professional bakeries work exclusively by weight.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
16 tablespoons per US cup, and 3 teaspoons per tablespoon (48 teaspoons per cup). One cup of butter equals 2 sticks or 16 tablespoons.