Ingredient Weight Converter
This converter covers over 100 cooking ingredients with gram-per-cup values for each. Choose your ingredient, pick the preparation type if needed (sifted flour, packed brown sugar, chopped nuts), enter your amount, and the calculator handles the conversion.
Why Cup Measurements Vary
A cup of flour can weigh anywhere from 115g to 150g. The difference comes down to air. Flour settles and compacts over time, so scooping from the bag packs more flour into the cup than spooning it in gently.
Brown sugar works the opposite way—most recipes assume you're packing it down, so a loosely filled cup contains less than intended.
Flour Weight by Measuring Method
| Measuring Method | Typical Weight | Variation from 125g |
|---|---|---|
| Digital scale | 125g | 0% |
| Spooned and leveled | 120-130g | ±4% |
| Scooped from bag | 140-160g | +12-28% |
| Packed down | 160-180g | +28-44% |
Reference Weights
| Ingredient | 1 US Cup | 1 Tablespoon |
|---|---|---|
| All-Purpose Flour | 125g / 4.4oz | 8g |
| Granulated Sugar | 200g / 7.1oz | 12.5g |
| Brown Sugar (packed) | 220g / 7.8oz | 14g |
| Butter | 227g / 8oz | 14g |
| Honey | 340g / 12oz | 21g |
| Milk | 245g / 8.6oz | 15g |
| Cocoa Powder | 86g / 3oz | 5g |
| Rolled Oats | 90g / 3.2oz | 6g |
Measuring Techniques
For flour, stir the flour first to break up any clumps, spoon it into your measuring cup, then level off the top with a straight edge.
Brown sugar should be pressed firmly into the cup until it holds its shape when turned out.
When measuring liquids, place the cup on a flat surface and check the level at eye height. Read at the bottom of the curved surface (meniscus), not where the liquid touches the sides of the cup.
Sticky ingredients like honey and molasses release from the cup more easily if you coat the inside with a thin layer of oil first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between US and metric cups?
US cups hold 236.6 mL while metric cups (Australia, Canada, New Zealand) hold 250 mL—about 6% more. The calculator includes both options in the unit dropdown.
Why does the same ingredient have different weight options?
Sifted flour contains more air than unsifted, so a cup of sifted flour weighs less. Chopped nuts fill gaps that whole nuts leave empty. Packed brown sugar eliminates air pockets. The variety dropdown matches these different preparations to their weights.
How do I measure butter without a scale?
Butter sticks in the US have tablespoon markings printed on the wrapper. One stick is half a cup (8 tablespoons, 113 grams). For unmarked blocks, you can use water displacement: partially fill a measuring cup with water, add butter until the water rises by the amount you need, then pour off the water.
What about measuring honey?
Honey clings to measuring cups. Coating the cup with oil beforehand helps it slide out. One cup of honey weighs about 340 grams (this matches the calculator's conversion).