Recipes from different countries and cookbooks mix cups, spoons, milliliters and grams. Converting between volume units is simple arithmetic, but converting a cup into grams depends on the ingredient — a cup of flour weighs about half as much as a cup of sugar. This calculator handles both: exact volume and weight conversions, plus cup-to-gram conversions using published ingredient weights.
How to use the cooking conversion calculator
- Enter the amount from your recipe.
- Choose the unit you have and the unit you want.
- If you're converting between volume and weight (cups ↔ grams, tablespoons ↔ ounces), choose the ingredient. For volume-to-volume or weight-to-weight conversions the ingredient doesn't matter.
Conversion formulas
Weight → weight: 1 lb = 16 oz = 453.592 g; 1 oz = 28.3495 g
Volume → weight: grams = cups × grams per cup of the ingredient
Weight → volume: cups = grams ÷ grams per cup
Worked examples
- 2½ cups of flour in grams: 2.5 × 120 = 300 g
- 500 g of sugar in cups: 500 ÷ 198 = 2.53 cups (about 2½ cups)
- 3 tablespoons in teaspoons: 3 × 3 = 9 tsp
- 8 oz of butter in grams: 8 × 28.35 = 226.8 g (two US sticks)
Ingredient weights per cup
| Ingredient | 1 cup in grams | 1 cup in ounces |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose or bread flour | 120 g | 4¼ oz |
| Whole wheat flour | 113 g | 4 oz |
| Granulated sugar | 198 g | 7 oz |
| Brown sugar, packed | 213 g | 7½ oz |
| Powdered sugar | 113 g | 4 oz |
| Butter (2 sticks) | 226 g | 8 oz |
| Cocoa powder | 84 g | 3 oz |
| Rolled oats | 89 g | 3⅛ oz |
| Milk or water | 227 g | 8 oz |
| Honey | 336 g | 12 oz |
| Long-grain rice, dry | 198 g | 7 oz |
Source: King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart. Values listed there per half cup or per tablespoon (butter, cocoa, rice, honey, salt) are scaled to one cup.
US spoon and cup equivalents
| Measure | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 tablespoon | 3 teaspoons = ½ fl oz ≈ 14.8 mL |
| ¼ cup | 4 tablespoons = 2 fl oz ≈ 59 mL |
| ⅓ cup | 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon ≈ 79 mL |
| ½ cup | 8 tablespoons = 4 fl oz ≈ 118 mL |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons = 8 fl oz ≈ 237 mL |
Measuring for accurate results
Volume measurements of dry ingredients vary with technique. For flour, fluff it in the bag, spoon it into the measuring cup and level it with a straight edge; scooping directly can add 20% or more. Pack brown sugar firmly unless the recipe says otherwise. Use liquid measuring cups (with a spout and headroom) for liquids, read at eye level, and dry cups for everything else. For baking, a kitchen scale that reads in grams removes most of this variability — which is why many modern recipes list weights first.
Making more or fewer servings? The Recipe Scale Calculator multiplies every ingredient for you.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams are in a cup of flour?
King Arthur Baking's ingredient chart lists 1 cup of all-purpose flour as 120 grams (4¼ oz). How you fill the cup matters: scooping straight from the bag packs in more flour than spooning it into the cup and leveling.
How many grams are in a cup of sugar?
198 grams of granulated sugar per cup, according to King Arthur's chart. Packed brown sugar is heavier at 213 g, and powdered sugar lighter at 113 g.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
16 tablespoons, or 48 teaspoons. A tablespoon is 3 teaspoons, and 2 tablespoons make 1 fluid ounce.
Are fluid ounces and ounces the same?
No. Fluid ounces measure volume and ounces measure weight. They match only for water-like liquids: 8 fl oz of water weighs about 8 oz, but 8 fl oz (1 cup) of flour weighs only about 4¼ oz.
Why do recipes give weights?
Weighing is more accurate than measuring by volume, especially for flour. A digital kitchen scale removes the variation between scooping methods and gives more consistent baking results.