Cups to Grams Converter (by Ingredient)
1 cup of all-purpose flour weighs about 120 grams, 1 cup of granulated sugar about 198 grams, and 1 cup of water or milk about 227 grams. Because ingredients have different densities, cups-to-grams depends on what you are measuring, so pick the ingredient below.
Worked example: converting a cookie recipe to grams
A recipe calls for 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour and 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar.
- Flour: 2.5 cups × 120 g per cup = 300 g.
- Sugar: 1.5 cups × 198 g per cup = 297 g.
Weighing gives more consistent results than cups, because how you fill a cup (scooped or spooned) changes how much flour goes in.
How the conversion works
grams = cups × grams per cup (for that ingredient)
- grams per cup comes from the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart. Where the chart lists a smaller measure (for example 1/2 cup of cocoa = 42 g, or 1 tablespoon of honey = 21 g), we multiply up to one cup.
- The reverse works too: cups = grams ÷ grams per cup.
- Assumptions: US customary cups (about 236.6 mL), and flour measured by spooning it into the cup and levelling it. Scooping straight from the bag packs more flour into the cup.
How many grams in a cup? Quick reference table
| Ingredient | 1/4 cup | 1/3 cup | 1/2 cup | 1 cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 30 g | 40 g | 60 g | 120 g |
| Whole wheat flour | 28 g | 38 g | 57 g | 113 g |
| Granulated sugar | 50 g | 66 g | 99 g | 198 g |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 53 g | 71 g | 107 g | 213 g |
| Confectioners’ sugar | 28 g | 38 g | 57 g | 113 g |
| Butter | 57 g | 75 g | 113 g | 226 g |
| Water or milk | 57 g | 76 g | 114 g | 227 g |
| Vegetable oil | 50 g | 66 g | 99 g | 198 g |
| Honey | 84 g | 112 g | 168 g | 336 g |
| Rolled oats | 22 g | 30 g | 45 g | 89 g |
| Cocoa powder | 21 g | 28 g | 42 g | 84 g |
Values are rounded to the nearest gram.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams are in a cup of flour?
One US cup of all-purpose flour weighs about 120 grams according to the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart. Bread flour is also about 120 grams, and whole wheat flour about 113 grams.
How many grams are in a cup of sugar?
One US cup of granulated white sugar weighs about 198 grams. Packed brown sugar is heavier at about 213 grams per cup, and unsifted confectioners' sugar is lighter at about 113 grams.
How many grams of butter are in a cup?
One cup of butter is about 226 grams, which is two US sticks of about 113 grams each. Half a cup, or 8 tablespoons, is about 113 grams.
Why is a cup of flour not 240 grams?
A cup measures volume, not weight. 240 is roughly the number of millilitres in a US cup, and only water-like liquids weigh about 1 gram per millilitre. Flour is much less dense, so a cup of it weighs about half as much.
Is a US cup the same as a UK or Australian cup?
No. A US customary cup is about 236.6 mL, while the metric cup used in Australia, Canada and New Zealand is 250 mL. The weights in this converter assume US cups, so metric cups hold about 6 percent more.
Related calculators
Sources
- Ingredient Weight Chart — King Arthur Baking Company
- Culinary Measurement Tips — National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- FoodData Central — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Disclaimer: results are estimates for general guidance only. Check product labels, recipes and project instructions before relying on them.