How it’s calculated
US recipe measures are fixed fractions of the US gallon (exactly 3.785411784 L):
Example: 1 cup = 236.59 mL = 16 tbsp. One cup of all-purpose flour weighs about 113 g and one cup of granulated sugar about 198 g (NIST SP 430).
Nutrition labels and NIST's metric kitchen guidance round these to 240 mL per cup, 15 mL per tablespoon and 5 mL per teaspoon. Metric (Australian, Canadian, UK) recipes often use a 250 mL cup.
| Ingredient | g per cup |
|---|---|
| Water | 236 |
| Milk (whole) | 241 |
| Butter, margarine or cooking oil | 227 |
| Flour (wheat, all-purpose) | 113 |
| Flour (cake, sifted) | 99 |
| Sugar (granulated) | 198 |
| Sugar (brown, firmly packed) | 213 |
| Rice (uncooked) | 198 |
| Oatmeal (rolled oats) | 85 |
| Corn meal | 142 |
Frequently asked questions
How many mL are in a cup?
A US customary cup is about 236.59 mL (often rounded to 240 mL). A metric cup is 250 mL, and a UK imperial cup is about 284 mL.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
16 tablespoons, which is also 48 teaspoons or 8 US fluid ounces.
How many grams is a cup of flour?
About 113–125 g for all-purpose flour, depending on how it is scooped. NIST SP 430 lists 113 g; spooned-and-leveled flour is closer to 125 g. A kitchen scale is the most reliable.
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Sources
- NIST SP 430: Household Weights and Measures (2004) — U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Metric Kitchen: Cooking Measurement Equivalencies — U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement — U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology
Formulas are taken from the free public references above. Results are provided “as is” for informational and educational purposes only. See our disclaimer.
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