How Many Grams in a Cup

Varies by ingredient: 1 cup flour = 128g, sugar = 200g, butter = 227g - Complete conversion guide

⚡Quick Answer

Grams per cup vary: flour 128g, granulated sugar 200g, butter 227g, water 237g. Use a kitchen scale for accuracy. Scooping method affects weight significantly for dry ingredients.

Step-by-Step Guide

It Depends on the Ingredient

Unlike volume (ml), grams measure weight, so 1 cup of different ingredients weighs differently. Flour is lighter than sugar, which is lighter than butter.

💡For accurate baking, always use a kitchen scale. Volume measurements can vary by 20% depending on how you scoop.

Common Ingredient Conversions

💡These are US cup measurements. Scooping flour lightly vs. packing it can change weight significantly.

Flour Measurements

1 cup all-purpose flour = 128g (spooned and leveled) | ½ cup = 64g | ¼ cup = 32g | ⅓ cup = 43g

💡Never scoop flour directly from the bag! Spoon it into the cup and level with a knife for accuracy.

Sugar Measurements

1 cup granulated sugar = 200g | 1 cup brown sugar (packed) = 220g | 1 cup powdered sugar = 120g | ½ cup granulated = 100g

💡Brown sugar should be packed firmly into the cup. Powdered sugar should be sifted first for best results.

Converting Cups to Grams

Multiply cups by the ingredient's gram weight. Example: 2.5 cups flour = 2.5 × 128g = 320g. Going backwards: 300g sugar ÷ 200 = 1.5 cups.

💡Save a conversion chart on your phone or bookmark this page for quick reference while cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do grams in a cup vary by ingredient?

Cups measure volume (space), grams measure weight. Different ingredients have different densities. A cup of feathers weighs less than a cup of rocks — same principle applies to flour vs. sugar.