FlourScaleWhy cups to grams depends on the ingredient
A cup is a measure of volume; a gram is a measure of weight. To convert between them you need the ingredient's density — how much a cup of it weighs. That is why there is no single "cups to grams" number. A US cup of all-purpose flour weighs about 120 g, a cup of granulated sugar about 198 g, packed brown sugar about 213 g and honey about 336 g. Using the flour number for sugar would leave you nearly 80 g short.
This converter uses the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart for dry and baking ingredients, and USDA FoodData Central values for liquids and fats where those are more precise (water, milk, cream, oils). The source for the selected ingredient is shown under the chart.
Common conversions
| Ingredient | 1 cup | 1/2 cup | 1 tbsp |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose or bread flour | 120 g | 60 g | 7.5 g |
| Whole wheat flour | 113 g | 57 g | 7 g |
| Granulated sugar | 198 g | 99 g | 12.4 g |
| Brown sugar, packed | 213 g | 107 g | 13.3 g |
| Powdered sugar, unsifted | 113 g | 57 g | 7 g |
| Butter | 227 g | 113 g | 14.2 g |
| Cocoa powder | 84 g | 42 g | 5.3 g |
| Rolled oats | 89 g | 45 g | 5.6 g |
| Water | 237 g | 119 g | 14.8 g |
Worked example
A cookie recipe calls for 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, ¾ cup packed brown sugar and ½ cup butter.
- Flour: 2.25 × 120 = 270 g
- Brown sugar: 0.75 × 213 = 160 g
- Butter: 0.5 × 227 = 113 g (one US stick)
How you fill the cup matters
The flour weights above assume the "spoon and level" method: fluff the flour, spoon it into the cup, and sweep off the excess. Dipping the cup into the bag and scooping compacts the flour and can add a surprising amount — often enough to make cakes dry and cookies cakey. That variability is the main reason serious bakers weigh ingredients. A basic digital scale is inexpensive and makes every recipe more repeatable.
Also note that cup sizes differ around the world. This tool uses the US customary cup (about 236.6 ml). A metric cup in Australia, Canada and elsewhere is 250 ml, about 6% larger, and a Japanese cup is 200 ml. If your recipe is from one of those countries, convert using millilitres instead: choose "millilitres" and enter 250 for each metric cup.