Cooking converter: cups, grams and densities
Cup-to-gram math is cups×density: 2 cups of flour at 125 g per cup are 250 g, while 500 g of sugar at 200 g per cup are 2.5 cups. Every ingredient has its own density (water is 236 g per cup), so flour cups and sugar cups never weigh the same. This calculator is built for fast, private, offline use in your browser. Every formula runs locally and is verified against official sources. You enter the key numbers, see the result instantly and check the steps.
TL;DR
- Pick the ingredient for its USDA-average density, keep cups and grams apart.
- Formulas: g = cups × density | cups = g ÷ density
- Example 1: 2 cups flour and 500 g sugar — Flour: 2×125 = 250 g
How it works
Grams = cups×density; cups = grams÷density. Pick the ingredient for its USDA-average density, keep cups and grams apart. Start with clean data, keep the same units and follow the order in the formula. The tool does the arithmetic, you choose rate, period or factor. A second example with different numbers shows how the result scales.
The math
2 cups flour × 125 = 250 g; 500 g sugar ÷ 200 = 2.5 cups; 1 cup water = 236 g. Check: 3 cups flour × 125 = 375 g.
Density in g per US cup. Water is the 236 g reference.
Examples
Example 1: 2 cups flour and 500 g sugar
- Flour: 2×125 = 250 g
- Sugar: 500÷200 = 2.5 cups
- Same cups, different grams: density decides
Example 2: 1 cup water and 3 cups flour
- Water: 1×236 = 236 g
- Flour: 3×125 = 375 g
- Water cups are heaviest per cup
When to use it
✦ US recipe in a metric kitchen
Convert an American recipe: cups of each ingredient to grams on the scale.
✦ Halving a cake
Scale quantities down: half cups to grams without rounding drift.
⚠ Common mistakes
- One density for all: a cup of flour (125 g) is not a cup of sugar (200 g).
- UK vs US cups: this calculator uses US cups (236 ml); imperial cups differ.
- Rounding mid-recipe: convert at the end, not per spoonful.
FAQ (7)
How many grams per cup of flour?
About 125 g per US cup (250 g for 2 cups).
Sugar cups to grams?
About 200 g per cup: 500 g are 2.5 cups.
Water?
1 cup is 236 g, the reference for thin liquids.
Do you save the numbers I type for area, volume or conversions?
Not at all. Every conversion — kg to lbs, area, fraction math — runs locally. No form data is posted anywhere. You can convert 1,500 kg to lbs on a shared computer and walk away knowing nothing was logged.
Will it work without internet in class?
Yes — that's why students like it. Load once on Wi-Fi, then fraction, base-converter or standard deviation work offline in class or in an exam hall without signal. It's just math in JavaScript, no server round-trip.
How accurate are the math results?
We use standard definitions (e.g. 1 kg = 2.20462 lbs, BIPM SI) and double-check edge cases via automated tests. For homework or site measurements it's more than enough, but for certified engineering or lab work, cross-check with the primary standard.
Can I share a calculation with a classmate?
Tap 'Share Link' — it puts the inputs in the URL. Your classmate opens it and sees the same 3/4 → 0.75 → 75% breakdown instantly, without retyping.
Sources & References
How this calculator is maintained
This calculator is written and maintained by Davide Coronese, independent developer and founder of CalcTracker.
Methodology: every formula is checked against official publications and validated by an automated test suite before release. Health, tax and finance pages cite the exact sources they rely on.
Found an error? Contact us — verified corrections ship within 24 hours.