Cups to Grams Converter
Why Do Cups Weigh Different Amounts for Different Ingredients?
A cup is a volume measurement, not a weight measurement. One US cup holds exactly 240ml of space. But the weight of that 240ml varies enormously depending on what you put in it. This comes down to density — the mass per unit of volume of a substance.
Consider honey versus flour: honey is a dense, viscous liquid that packs tightly into a cup, while flour is a fine powder full of tiny air pockets. A cup of honey weighs 340g, while a cup of flour weighs just 120g — nearly three times lighter, yet occupying exactly the same volume.
This is why UK and European recipes typically specify ingredients by weight in grams or kilograms. Weight is universal and unambiguous. A kitchen scale gives you the same reading regardless of how loosely or firmly you pack a cup. With cup measurements, technique matters: flour measured by scooping directly can weigh 150-160g per cup, while flour spooned gently into the cup and levelled off is closer to 120g per cup — a 30% difference that can dramatically affect baking results.
The US Cup Standard
The standard US cup measurement is 240ml (approximately 8 fluid ounces). This was standardised by the US customary system and is used throughout American cookbooks and recipe websites. When you encounter a US recipe calling for "1 cup," it means 240ml by volume.
Australian Cup Difference
Australia uses a 250ml cup (the metric cup). This 10ml difference is small — about 4% — but can accumulate across multiple cups. A recipe requiring 3 cups of flour would give you 360g with a US cup (3 × 120g) versus 375g with an Australian cup (if using the proportional difference). Our calculator lets you select your cup standard to account for this.
UK and European Baking
The United Kingdom does not officially use cup measurements. UK recipes specify grams, millilitres, and occasionally fluid ounces or pints. However, many UK home bakers follow US or Australian food blogs and YouTube channels, making the conversion from cups to grams an everyday necessity. UK supermarkets sell measuring cups, but they are not a standard part of the UK culinary tradition the way they are in North America.
Complete Cups to Grams Conversion Table
All values below use the US cup (240ml) as the standard. Flour values assume gently spooned and levelled. Brown sugar values assume packed. Multiply or divide for different quantities.
| Ingredient | ¼ cup | ⅓ cup | ½ cup | 1 cup | 2 cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Purpose / Plain Flour | 30g | 40g | 60g | 120g | 240g |
| Self-Raising Flour | 31g | 42g | 63g | 125g | 250g |
| Wholemeal Flour | 30g | 40g | 60g | 120g | 240g |
| Bread Flour | 28g | 37g | 55g | 110g | 220g |
| Almond Flour | 25g | 33g | 50g | 100g | 200g |
| Granulated Sugar | 50g | 67g | 100g | 200g | 400g |
| Caster Sugar | 50g | 67g | 100g | 200g | 400g |
| Icing Sugar (Powdered) | 30g | 40g | 60g | 120g | 240g |
| Brown Sugar (packed) | 55g | 73g | 110g | 220g | 440g |
| Demerara Sugar | 50g | 67g | 100g | 200g | 400g |
| Butter | 57g | 76g | 114g | 227g | 454g |
| Margarine | 55g | 73g | 110g | 220g | 440g |
| Vegetable Oil | 54g | 72g | 108g | 216g | 432g |
| Rolled Oats | 23g | 30g | 45g | 90g | 180g |
| White Rice (uncooked) | 46g | 62g | 93g | 185g | 370g |
| Cocoa Powder | 21g | 28g | 43g | 85g | 170g |
| Honey | 85g | 113g | 170g | 340g | 680g |
| Maple Syrup | 82g | 109g | 164g | 328g | 656g |
| Milk | 60g | 80g | 120g | 240g | 480g |
| Water | 60g | 80g | 120g | 240g | 480g |
| Breadcrumbs (dry) | 13g | 17g | 25g | 50g | 100g |
| Desiccated Coconut | 28g | 37g | 55g | 110g | 220g |
Cups, Tablespoons, and Teaspoons
In addition to cups, US recipes often call for tablespoons (tbsp) and teaspoons (tsp). Here is how these relate to each other and to grams for key ingredients:
| Measurement | Volume (ml) | Flour (g) | Sugar (g) | Butter (g) | Honey (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon (tsp) | 5ml | 2.5g | 4g | 4.7g | 7g |
| 1 dessertspoon | 10ml | 5g | 8g | 9.5g | 14g |
| 1 tablespoon (tbsp) | 15ml | 8g | 12g | 14.2g | 21g |
| 2 tablespoons | 30ml | 16g | 24g | 28.4g | 42g |
| ¼ cup (4 tbsp) | 60ml | 30g | 50g | 57g | 85g |
| ⅓ cup | 80ml | 40g | 67g | 76g | 113g |
| ½ cup (8 tbsp) | 120ml | 60g | 100g | 114g | 170g |
| 1 cup (16 tbsp) | 240ml | 120g | 200g | 227g | 340g |
Note: 1 UK tablespoon = 15ml and 1 US tablespoon = 14.79ml — the difference is negligible for home baking. However, if you are converting large quantities, this small variance may be worth accounting for.
Practical Tips for US to UK Recipe Conversion
Invest in a Kitchen Scale
The single most effective step you can take for better baking results when converting US recipes is to use a digital kitchen scale. Weighing ingredients in grams removes all ambiguity. Accurate to 1-2 grams, a good kitchen scale costs under £15 and will transform your baking consistency.
How to Measure Flour Accurately in Cups
If you must use a cup measure, use the "spoon and level" method: spoon flour into the cup using a separate spoon (do not scoop directly with the cup), then use a flat edge to level off the top. Scooping packs the flour and can add 20-30% extra weight, leading to dense, dry baked goods.
Brown Sugar: Packed or Loose?
US recipes specifying "packed brown sugar" mean you should press the sugar firmly into the cup. Our table values for brown sugar use packed measurements (220g per cup). If a recipe says "loosely packed" or just "brown sugar," use approximately 170-180g per US cup.
Butter: Softened, Melted, or Solid?
Butter density is the same regardless of temperature — 227g per cup is valid whether softened or solid. What changes is how you measure it. Softened butter can be packed into a cup measure; melted butter can be poured. Neither method changes the gram equivalent. Use our Butter Measurement Calculator for stick-based conversions.
Self-Raising vs All-Purpose Flour
UK "self-raising flour" is the equivalent of US "self-rising flour." US recipes often call for "all-purpose flour" with added baking powder. UK plain flour is the same as US all-purpose flour. If a US recipe calls for all-purpose flour plus baking powder, you can substitute UK self-raising flour and reduce the baking powder accordingly.