Baking Measurement Conversions: Cups, Tablespoons, and Grams
How to convert between cups, tablespoons, and grams when baking, why the same cup measurement can weigh differently for different ingredients, and why weighing ingredients gives more consistent results.
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Cups and tablespoons measure volume, while grams measure weight, so there is no single, universal conversion between them — the correct answer depends on the density of the specific ingredient being measured. A cup of flour and a cup of sugar contain the same volume but different weights, which is why precise recipes, especially in baking, increasingly specify weight rather than volume.
Volume vs. weight in the kitchen
Measuring cups and spoons (cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, fluid ounces) measure how much space an ingredient occupies. A kitchen scale measures how much an ingredient weighs, typically in grams or ounces. For liquids like water or milk, the two are almost interchangeable because their density is close to 1 gram per milliliter. For dry or aerated ingredients like flour, sugar, or butter, the relationship depends on how tightly the ingredient is packed.
Common conversions
A few reference points are useful for everyday cooking and baking:
- 1 US cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
- 1 US cup of water ≈ 240 g
- 1 US cup of all-purpose flour (spooned, not packed) ≈ 120–125 g
- 1 US cup of granulated sugar ≈ 200 g
These figures vary by brand, how finely an ingredient is milled, and how it's measured (scooped directly from the bag vs. spooned into the cup and leveled), which is one reason bakers who care about consistency prefer a scale.
US cups vs. metric cups
A US cup is defined as 240 mL. The "metric cup" used in Australia, New Zealand, and some UK recipes is defined as 250 mL — about a 4% difference. That gap rarely matters for everyday cooking, but it can shift the outcome of recipes that depend on precise ratios, like bread or pastry.
Frequently asked questions
- How many grams are in a cup?
- It depends entirely on the ingredient, because a cup measures volume and grams measure weight. A US cup of all-purpose flour is roughly 120–125 g, a cup of granulated sugar is roughly 200 g, and a cup of water is almost exactly 240 g, since water's density is close to 1 g/mL.
- How many tablespoons are in a cup?
- There are 16 tablespoons in one US cup, and 3 teaspoons in one tablespoon.
- Is a US cup the same size as a metric cup?
- No. A US cup is 240 mL, while the metric cup used in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK is 250 mL — close enough for casual cooking, but enough of a difference to matter in precise baking.
- Why do professional bakers weigh ingredients instead of using cups?
- Volume measurements like cups are sensitive to how an ingredient is packed or scooped, so the same recipe can yield different results depending on technique. Weighing ingredients on a scale removes that variability, which is why weight-based measurements are standard in professional and metric baking.