How it is calculated
Volume-to-weight depends on each ingredient’s density — a cup of flour weighs far less than a cup of honey. We use the standard US cup (≈ 240 ml):
| Ingredient | 1 cup ≈ |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 120 g |
| Granulated sugar | 200 g |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 220 g |
| Powdered sugar | 120 g |
| Butter | 227 g |
| Milk or water | 240 g |
| Oil | 218 g |
| Rice | 185 g |
| Oats | 90 g |
| Honey | 340 g |
1 tablespoon = 1/16 cup (≈ 15 ml); 1 teaspoon = ⅓ tablespoon (≈ 5 ml).
Worked example
2 cups of flour = 240 g, 3 tbsp sugar ≈ 37.5 g, and 250 g butter ≈ 1.1 cups.
Frequently asked questions
Why do cups differ between recipes?
A US cup is about 240 ml, a metric cup 250 ml, and home mugs vary — a scale is always more accurate.
How do I measure flour accurately by cup?
Spoon it into the cup without packing, then level it with a knife.
Are grams and millilitres the same?
Roughly for water and milk, but not for other ingredients.