How to convert cups to grams for baking
Converting cups to grams is the single most useful baking conversion, and also the most misunderstood. The key idea is simple: a cup measures volume, a gram measures weight, and different ingredients have different densities. This guide shows you exactly how to convert, with worked examples.
By FlourPilot
Start calculating: To convert cups to grams, multiply the number of cups by the ingredient's grams-per-cup value. For all-purpose flour that is about 120 g per cup, so 1.5 cups = 1.5 × 120 = 180 g.
Worked examples
1 cup of bread flour = 1 × 136 = 136 g. 1.5 cups of white sugar = 1.5 × 200 = 300 g. 0.5 cup of butter = 0.5 × 227 = 113.5 g. 2 cups of water = 2 × 240 = 480 g. Each ingredient uses its own density, which is why the result changes when you switch ingredients.
Common mistakes
Using one universal cup-to-gram number for everything is the biggest mistake — it only works for water. Scooping flour tightly instead of spoon-and-level can add 20–30 g per cup. Confusing the US cup (240 ml) with the metric cup (250 ml) also shifts results. Finally, sifted flour weighs less than unsifted flour, so always check whether the recipe means sifted.
One US cup (240 ml) in grams
| Ingredient | Cups | Grams |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 1 | 240 |
| All-purpose flour | 1 | 120 |
| Bread flour | 1 | 136 |
| Whole-wheat flour | 1 | 120 |
| White sugar | 1 | 200 |
| Brown sugar | 1 | 213 |
| Butter | 1 | 227 |