Cups to Grams Calculator

What Does This Cups to Grams Calculator Do?

Baking recipes from different countries - and even different cookbooks from the same country - measure ingredients differently. US recipes typically use cups and tablespoons, while most of the rest of the world measures by weight in grams. This cups to grams calculator converts common baking ingredients both directions, using an ingredient-specific density so a cup of flour and a cup of honey don't get treated as if they weigh the same.

How the Conversion Works

Cups measure volume, but grams measure weight - so converting between them requires knowing how dense the ingredient is. This calculator uses standard reference densities (grams per US cup) for 13 common baking ingredients:

To go from cups to grams, multiply the number of cups by the ingredient's grams-per-cup value. To go from grams to cups, divide the gram amount by that same value. Select your ingredient, choose a direction, and the calculator does the arithmetic for you - including decimal cup amounts like 0.5 or 1.33.

Worked Example

Say a recipe calls for 1.5 cups of granulated sugar and you want to know the weight in grams:

• Granulated sugar density = 200g per cup
• Grams = 1.5 x 200 = 300g

Now say you're working from a European recipe that lists 150g of all-purpose flour and you want to know how many cups that is:

• All-purpose flour density = 120g per cup
• Cups = 150 / 120 = 1.25 cups

Practical Baking Tips

• Spoon and level, don't scoop: Scooping flour directly from the bag compacts it and can add 15-20% extra weight compared to spooning it into the cup and leveling with a knife.
• Weigh when precision matters: A digital kitchen scale removes measurement variability entirely and is the most reliable method for bread, pastry, and other recipes sensitive to ratios.
• Pack brown sugar firmly: Unlike flour, brown sugar should be pressed down into the cup - that's what "packed" means, and it's why its density (220g/cup) is higher than granulated sugar.
• Room-temperature butter measures more consistently: Cold, hard butter can leave air gaps when pressed into a cup; softened butter packs more predictably.
• Double-check unusual ingredients: Densities for nuts, chocolate chips, shredded cheese, and other chunky ingredients vary widely and aren't included in the standard list above - when in doubt, check the specific product's packaging or use a scale.