Cooking Unit Converter
Convert between cooking units — cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, ounces, grams, ml — with ingredient-specific accuracy. The trick: 1 cup of flour weighs ~125g, but 1 cup of sugar weighs ~200g, and 1 cup of honey weighs ~340g. This calculator uses density tables for 20+ common Indian and global ingredients to give the right answer.
How this calculator works
Most online converters assume water density (1 cup = 240 ml = 240 g). That's only correct for liquids of similar density to water. For dry ingredients, you need ingredient-specific density.
Common density values (g/ml)
- Water, milk, curd: ~1.00 (1 cup = 240 ml = 240 g)
- Honey: 1.42 (1 cup honey weighs 340 g — much heavier than water)
- Ghee, oil, butter: ~0.91 (1 cup ghee = 218 g — lighter than water)
- All-purpose flour (maida): 0.53 (1 cup = 127 g)
- Whole wheat atta: 0.55 (1 cup = 132 g)
- Granulated sugar: 0.85 (1 cup = 204 g)
- Rice (uncooked basmati): 0.78 (1 cup = 187 g)
- Dal (toor/moong, uncooked): 0.75 (1 cup = 180 g)
Cup standards
Two cup sizes exist:
- US cup (240 ml) — used in most US recipes and this calculator's default
- Metric cup (250 ml) — Australian and New Zealand standard
The difference is ~4%, usually unimportant for cooking but matters for baking.
Why baking demands precision
For roti or sabzi, "1 cup of flour" is fine — the recipe absorbs small variations. For baking — cake, bread, cookies — gram measurements give consistent results because flour fluffiness varies by 20% depending on how you scoop. Pro bakers always weigh ingredients in grams.
Worked example
Example 1 — How many grams is 2 cups of all-purpose flour?
- 2 cups × 240 ml × 0.53 g/ml = 254 g
- (Common recipe references say 1 cup flour = 125-130g, this matches)
Example 2 — How many tablespoons is 50 ml of oil?
- 50 ml ÷ 15 ml per tbsp = 3.3 tbsp
Example 3 — Convert 100 g of ghee to cups:
- 100 g ÷ 0.91 g/ml = 110 ml
- 110 ml ÷ 240 ml per cup = 0.46 cups (just under ½ cup)
Frequently asked questions
Why does 1 cup of flour weigh different amounts in different recipes?
Flour weight varies 15-25% based on how you measure — sifted vs unsifted, packed vs spooned. Weighing in grams eliminates this variation. Standard reference: 1 US cup of unsifted all-purpose flour = approximately 125-130g.
Is 1 tablespoon = 15 ml or 20 ml?
Globally standard tablespoon = 15 ml. However, Australia uses 20 ml. Indian recipes typically follow 15 ml (US/UK standard). When unsure, weigh ingredients instead.
How do I convert recipes from cups to grams?
Use this calculator with the right ingredient selected. Common quick references: 1 cup flour ≈ 125g, 1 cup sugar ≈ 200g, 1 cup butter ≈ 225g, 1 cup rice (uncooked) ≈ 185g, 1 cup ghee ≈ 220g.
Are these conversions exact?
Density-based conversions are accurate to ±5%. Variation comes from packing density, moisture content, and ambient temperature. For most home cooking this is fine. For competition baking, use a kitchen scale set to grams.
Why is honey so much heavier than water?
Honey is 80% sugar, 17% water, and very dense (~1.42 g/ml). Pouring 1 cup of honey gives you 340 g compared to 240g for water. Same with corn syrup, maple syrup, and condensed milk — all denser than water.
How much is 1 katori in standard units?
Indian katori (small bowl) is typically 150-200 ml. There is no standard katori size — varies by region and household. Most home recipe books assume ~150 ml. For consistency, use a 240ml measuring cup or a kitchen scale.
What is the difference between fluid ounce and ounce?
Fluid ounce (fl oz) measures volume — 1 fl oz = 29.57 ml. Ounce (oz) measures weight — 1 oz = 28.35 g. They are NOT interchangeable except for water at room temperature, where they happen to be approximately equal.
How do I scale a recipe up or down?
Multiply all ingredient amounts by the same factor. For 1.5x recipe: 1 cup flour becomes 1.5 cups (or 187g instead of 125g). Some ingredients (salt, spices, leavening agents) need slightly less than linear scaling for larger batches — taste-adjust at the end.