Last updated: March 2026
What Is a Cups to Grams Converter?
A cups-to-grams converter translates volume measurements (cups, tablespoons, teaspoons) into weight measurements (grams, ounces) for specific cooking ingredients. Unlike a simple unit converter, it accounts for the fact that different ingredients have different densities — a cup of flour weighs far less than a cup of honey.
This is essential when following recipes from different countries or professional baking sources that use metric weights. The US is one of only 3 countries that still uses cups and tablespoons as primary cooking measurements, so international recipes almost always specify grams.
How to Convert Cups to Grams
1. Select your ingredient from the dropdown menu. Each ingredient has a specific density that determines its gram-per-cup weight.
2. Enter the amount in the number field. You can enter decimals like 0.5 or 1.75 for partial cups.
3. Choose your measure — cup, tablespoon, or teaspoon. The converter calculates gram and ounce equivalents instantly.
For the most accurate results, always spoon dry ingredients into your measuring cup and level off with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the container.
Common Cups to Grams Conversions
Here are the most frequently looked-up conversions: 1 cup all-purpose flour = 120g, 1 cup granulated sugar = 200g, 1 cup butter = 227g, 1 cup brown sugar (packed) = 220g, 1 cup milk = 244g, 1 cup water = 237g.
Notice the range: flour is only 120 grams per cup while butter is 227 grams. That's nearly double the weight in the same volume. This is why you cannot use a single conversion factor for all ingredients — you need ingredient-specific densities, which is exactly what this converter provides.
For tablespoon conversions, divide the per-cup weight by 16. For teaspoons, divide by 48. For example, 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour is about 7.5 grams (120 / 16), and 1 teaspoon is about 2.5 grams (120 / 48).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grams are in a cup of flour?
One cup of all-purpose flour weighs approximately 120 grams when properly measured (spooned and leveled). If you scoop flour directly from the bag, a cup can weigh 140-160 grams due to packing, which leads to dense baked goods.
How many grams are in a cup of sugar?
One cup of granulated white sugar weighs approximately 200 grams. Brown sugar (packed) weighs about 220 grams per cup, and powdered/confectioners' sugar weighs about 120 grams per cup.
Why do different ingredients have different gram weights per cup?
Because a cup measures volume, not weight. Dense ingredients like honey (340g/cup) pack more mass into the same space than light ingredients like cocoa powder (85g/cup). This is why weight measurements are more precise for baking.
How many grams of butter are in a cup?
One cup of butter weighs 227 grams (8 ounces or 2 sticks). One stick of butter is 113 grams or 1/2 cup. Butter is often sold in pre-marked sticks with tablespoon measurements printed on the wrapper.
Is a cup the same everywhere in the world?
No. A US cup is 236.6 ml, while an Imperial (UK) cup is 284 ml, and an Australian cup is 250 ml. Japanese cups are 200 ml. This converter uses US cups. When following international recipes, check which cup standard they use.
How do I measure cups to grams without a scale?
Use this converter to find the gram equivalent, then use known reference weights. A US nickel weighs 5 grams, a US quarter weighs about 5.7 grams. For better accuracy, invest in a digital kitchen scale ($10-15) which will improve your baking consistency dramatically.