Cups to Grams Converter

Convert cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons to grams for any baking ingredient. Select your ingredient and measurement to get an accurate weight conversion instantly.

By Jordan Rivera|Updated Jul 5, 2026

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Why Weigh Your Ingredients?

Professional bakers and pastry chefs around the world measure ingredients by weight rather than volume. Here's why weighing matters:

Accuracy: A cup of flour can vary by 30% depending on how it's scooped. Weighing eliminates this guesswork entirely.
Consistency: Your recipes turn out the same every time when you use grams instead of cups.
Easier scaling: Doubling or halving a recipe is simple math when working with weight.
Less cleanup: You can add ingredients directly to a bowl on a scale, skipping measuring cups altogether.

Common Cups to Grams Conversions

Here are the most frequently used conversions for baking:

1 cup all-purpose flour: 125 grams
1 cup granulated sugar: 200 grams
1 cup brown sugar (packed): 220 grams
1 cup butter: 227 grams (2 sticks)
1 cup milk: 245 grams
1 cup water: 237 grams
1 cup honey: 340 grams
1 cup cocoa powder: 86 grams
1 cup oats: 90 grams
1 cup rice: 185 grams

Cups vs. Metric: Understanding the Difference

The US customary cup (236.6 mL) is a volume measurement, while grams measure mass. Because different ingredients have different densities, one cup of flour does not weigh the same as one cup of sugar. This is why volume-based recipes can be unreliable, especially in baking where precision matters.

Most countries outside the US use the metric system (grams and milliliters) for cooking. If you're following a recipe from the UK, Europe, or Australia, you'll likely encounter gram measurements.

How many grams is 1 1/2 cups of flour?

For all-purpose flour, 1 cup is commonly treated as 125 grams when the flour is spooned into the cup and leveled. That makes 1 1/2 cups about 188 grams. If you scoop flour directly from the bag, the cup can pack tighter and weigh more, which is why a scale gives a more repeatable result.

Why does one cup weigh different for flour, sugar, and butter?

A cup measures volume, not weight. Flour is light and compressible, granulated sugar is denser, and butter is denser still. That is why 1 cup of all-purpose flour is about 125 grams, 1 cup of granulated sugar is about 200 grams, and 1 cup of butter is about 227 grams.

Measuring Tips for Better Baking

Invest in a kitchen scale. Digital scales accurate to 1 gram are affordable and essential for serious baking.
Spoon and level flour. If you must use cups, spoon flour into the cup and level with a knife. Never scoop directly from the bag.
Pack brown sugar. Brown sugar should be firmly packed into the measuring cup.
Use liquid measuring cups for liquids. Glass measuring cups with a pour spout are designed for liquids and give more accurate readings than dry measuring cups.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many grams in a cup of flour?

One cup of all-purpose flour weighs approximately 125 grams. Bread flour is slightly heavier at about 130 grams per cup. Always spoon flour into the measuring cup and level off for consistent results.

Why are baking measurements different by weight?

Different ingredients have different densities. A cup of flour weighs 125g while a cup of sugar weighs 200g. Measuring by weight (grams) is more accurate than volume (cups) because it eliminates variations from how tightly an ingredient is packed.

How do you measure flour correctly?

The most accurate method is to weigh flour with a kitchen scale. If using cups, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level off with a straight edge. Never scoop directly from the bag, as this compacts the flour and can add up to 30% more than intended.

What is the difference between a US cup and a metric cup?

A US customary cup is 236.6 mL, while a metric cup (used in Australia and some other countries) is 250 mL. The difference is small but can matter in precise baking recipes. This converter uses US cup measurements.