Choose an ingredient, enter an amount and a unit, and see the equivalent in grams, ounces, millilitres, cups, tablespoons and teaspoons. It is handy for converting US recipes.
Results are estimates for planning. Check the figures before you make a financial or health decision.
How the Cooking conversions works
Volume and weight are different things, so converting cups to grams depends on the ingredient. The tool stores a density for each ingredient in its list, such as flour, sugar or butter.
- If you enter a volume (cups, spoons, fluid ounces, millilitres or litres), it converts it to millilitres, then multiplies by that ingredient’s density to get grams.
- If you enter a weight (grams, kilograms, ounces or pounds), it converts to grams, then divides by the density to get millilitres.
- All the other units are then worked out from millilitres.
Measures used are 1 US cup = 236.6 ml, 1 tablespoon = 14.8 ml and 1 teaspoon = 4.9 ml. In the UK a metric cup is 250 ml and a tablespoon is usually 15 ml, so small differences are possible.
How much an ingredient weighs in a cup depends on how it is packed. Flour scooped from the bag weighs more than flour spooned and levelled. The results are good estimates, not lab measures.
Worked example
Using the default values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Plain or all-purpose flour |
| Amount | 2 |
| Unit | US cups |
In grams: 250 g
| Ounces | 8.82 |
|---|---|
| Millilitres | 473 |
| US cups | 2 |
| Tablespoons | 32 |
| Teaspoons | 96 |
Tips and common mistakes
For baking, weighing ingredients on scales is more accurate than measuring by cup, so use this tool to convert a recipe once and then keep the grams. If you are using a US recipe, choose US cups. Check that you have the right ingredient, for example caster sugar and brown sugar weigh differently.
Spoon and level flour rather than scooping it. Round results sensibly, for example to the nearest 5 g for larger amounts. If the recipe gives oven temperatures in Fahrenheit or gas mark, use the Oven temperature converter calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the weight depend on the ingredient?
A cup is a measure of volume. A cup of flour weighs much less than a cup of sugar or butter, so each ingredient has its own conversion.
Is a US cup the same as a UK cup?
No. A US cup is about 237 ml and the UK metric cup is 250 ml. This tool uses the US cup, so choose it for US recipes.
How accurate are the grams?
They are good estimates, but packing and moisture change real weights. Weighing is the most reliable way to bake.