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Ingredient Density Chart

Grams per cup, tablespoon, and teaspoon for 59 common baking ingredients — grouped by category and based on USDA FoodData Central and King Arthur Flour tested measurements.

Flours & Starches

Grams per standard US volume measure. Spoon-and-level method unless noted.

Ingredient1 cup1 tbsp1 tspNotes
All-Purpose Flour King Arthur Flour / USDA FDC #169761120 g7.5 g2.5 gSpooned & leveled. Scooping adds 20-30g per cup.
Bread Flour King Arthur Flour120 g7.5 g2.5 gSame density as AP flour when spooned.
Cake Flour King Arthur Flour96 g6 g2 gLighter than AP flour — do not substitute by volume.
Whole Wheat Flour King Arthur Flour / USDA FDC #169761113 g7 g2.4 gHeavier than AP due to bran.
Almond Flour King Arthur Flour96 g6 g2 gBlanched, finely ground. Coarse almond meal is lighter.
Oat Flour King Arthur Flour92 g5.75 g1.9 g
Rye Flour (Medium) King Arthur Flour102 g6.4 g2.1 g
Cornstarch USDA FDC #169733120 g7.5 g2.5 g
Arrowroot Starch USDA FDC128 g8 g2.7 g
Tapioca Starch/Flour USDA FDC120 g7.5 g2.5 g

Sugars & Sweeteners

Grams per standard US volume measure. Spoon-and-level method unless noted.

Ingredient1 cup1 tbsp1 tspNotes
Granulated Sugar USDA FDC #167526 / King Arthur200 g12.5 g4.2 g
Powdered Sugar (Confectioners') King Arthur Flour113 g7 g2.4 gSifted. Unsifted can be up to 130g/cup.
Brown Sugar (Packed) USDA FDC #168837 / King Arthur213 g13.3 g4.4 gFirmly packed. Loosely packed is ~170g/cup.
Brown Sugar (Loosely Packed) King Arthur Flour170 g10.6 g3.5 g
Honey USDA FDC #169640340 g21.3 g7.1 g
Maple Syrup USDA FDC #169661320 g20 g6.7 g
Coconut Sugar King Arthur Flour180 g11.3 g3.8 g

Fats & Oils

Grams per standard US volume measure. Spoon-and-level method unless noted.

Ingredient1 cup1 tbsp1 tspNotes
Butter (Unsalted) USDA FDC #173430227 g14 g4.7 g1 stick = 113g = ½ cup = 8 tablespoons. See butter-composition in toolFacts.json for fat/moisture breakdown. tbsp value per FDA nutrition label standard; precise USDA FDC value is 14.2g.
Coconut Oil (Melted) USDA FDC #172336218 g13.6 g4.5 g
Vegetable Oil USDA FDC #172336218 g13.6 g4.5 g
Olive Oil USDA FDC #171413216 g13.5 g4.5 g
Vegetable Shortening USDA FDC192 g12 g4 g

Dairy

Grams per standard US volume measure. Spoon-and-level method unless noted.

Ingredient1 cup1 tbsp1 tspNotes
Milk (Whole) USDA FDC #746782244 g15.3 g5.1 g
Milk (Skim/Non-fat) USDA FDC245 g15.3 g5.1 g
Buttermilk USDA FDC #170876245 g15.3 g5.1 g
Heavy Cream USDA FDC #170859238 g14.9 g5 g
Large Egg USDA / King ArthurUS standard large egg. Medium ≈44g, Extra Large ≈64g (with shell). Whole egg: 57 g with shell · 50 g without shell.
Sour Cream USDA FDC #170851230 g14.4 g4.8 g
Yogurt (Plain, Whole Milk) USDA FDC #171284245 g15.3 g5.1 g
Cream Cheese USDA FDC #172184232 g14.5 g4.8 g

Grains & Oats

Grams per standard US volume measure. Spoon-and-level method unless noted.

Ingredient1 cup1 tbsp1 tspNotes
Rolled Oats (Old-Fashioned) King Arthur / USDA FDC #17390490 g5.6 g1.9 g
Quick Oats King Arthur80 g5 g1.7 g
White Rice (Dry, Long-Grain) USDA FDC #168878185 g11.6 g3.9 g
Brown Rice (Dry) USDA FDC #168876190 g11.9 g4 g
Breadcrumbs (Dry, Fine) USDA FDC108 g6.75 g2.25 g
Panko Breadcrumbs King Arthur50 g3.1 g1 gVery light — much less dense than fine breadcrumbs.

Nuts, Seeds & Butters

Grams per standard US volume measure. Spoon-and-level method unless noted.

Ingredient1 cup1 tbsp1 tspNotes
Almonds (Whole) USDA FDC #170567143 g9 g3 g
Almonds (Sliced) King Arthur92 g5.75 g1.9 g
Walnuts (Chopped) USDA FDC #170187117 g7.3 g2.4 g
Pecans (Chopped) USDA FDC #170182109 g6.8 g2.3 g
Peanut Butter (Smooth) USDA FDC #172470258 g16.1 g5.4 g
Chia Seeds USDA FDC #170554160 g10 g3.3 g
Flaxseed (Ground) USDA FDC149 g9.3 g3.1 g
Sesame Seeds USDA FDC #170148144 g9 g3 g

Leaveners & Salt

Grams per standard US volume measure. Spoon-and-level method unless noted.

Ingredient1 cup1 tbsp1 tspNotes
Baking Powder USDA FDC #172188230 g14.4 g4.8 gDense powder — measure carefully. 1 tsp = 4.8g.
Baking Soda USDA FDC #173436230 g14.4 g4.8 gSame density as baking powder. 1 tsp = 4.8g.
Active Dry Yeast USDA FDC150 g9.4 g3.1 g1 standard packet = 2¼ tsp = 7g.
Salt (Table/Iodized) USDA FDC #173468273 g17.1 g5.7 gDenser than kosher salt. Always measure by weight for brine.
Kosher Salt (Morton) Morton Salt240 g15 g5 gMorton is denser than Diamond Crystal. 1 tsp Morton ≈ 1.5 tsp Diamond.
Kosher Salt (Diamond Crystal) Diamond Crystal / Serious Eats142 g8.9 g3 gMuch lighter than Morton or table salt. Common recipe source of confusion.

Chocolate & Cocoa

Grams per standard US volume measure. Spoon-and-level method unless noted.

Ingredient1 cup1 tbsp1 tspNotes
Cocoa Powder (Unsweetened) King Arthur / USDA FDC #16959385 g5.3 g1.8 gSpooned & leveled. Scooping adds significant weight.
Chocolate Chips King Arthur170 g10.6 g3.5 g
Cocoa Powder (Dutch-Process) King Arthur92 g5.75 g1.9 gSlightly denser than natural cocoa.

Dried Fruit

Grams per standard US volume measure. Spoon-and-level method unless noted.

Ingredient1 cup1 tbsp1 tspNotes
Raisins USDA FDC #168165165 g10.3 g3.4 g
Dried Cranberries USDA FDC120 g7.5 g2.5 g
Shredded Coconut (Sweetened) King Arthur93 g5.8 g1.9 g

Liquids

Grams per standard US volume measure. Spoon-and-level method unless noted.

Ingredient1 cup1 tbsp1 tspNotes
Water Physics / USDA237 g14.8 g4.9 gReference point. Most thin liquids ≈ water weight.
Vanilla Extract USDA FDC #173545208 g13 g4.3 g
Lemon Juice USDA FDC #167747244 g15.3 g5.1 g

How to Read This Density Chart

A cup measures volume, not weight. The gram weight of any ingredient filling that cup depends entirely on its density — which is why 1 cup of flour (120g) weighs so much less than 1 cup of honey (340g). This chart gives you the exact weight for each ingredient so you can measure by weight when a recipe calls for precision.

The Spoon-and-Level Standard

Unless a note says otherwise, all flour, cocoa, and powdered values use the spoon-and-level method: spoon the ingredient into the measuring cup until it mounds, then sweep a straight edge across the top. Scooping directly from the bag can add 20–30% more flour to the same "1 cup."

Why Weight Beats Volume

For baking — especially anything with flour, sugar, or leaveners — a kitchen scale removes the single biggest variable in recipe failure. The Cups to Grams Calculator converts any amount you type; this chart is the full reference table behind it.

About the Data

Every value traces to USDA FoodData Central (Foundation Foods) or King Arthur Flour's published weight charts, noted per ingredient. Values were last verified June 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the most common baking measurement questions.

How many grams is 1 cup of all-purpose flour?

1 cup of all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, equals 120 grams. Scooping directly from the bag can yield 150-160g, a 30% difference.

How many grams is 1 cup of granulated sugar?

1 cup of granulated sugar equals 200 grams. Sugar is denser than flour and packs consistently by volume.

How many grams is 1 cup of butter?

1 cup of butter equals 227 grams, which is 2 sticks or 8 ounces. Butter is usually sold in stick form with tablespoon markings on the wrapper.

Why does kosher salt have two different density values?

Morton kosher salt weighs about 5g per teaspoon while Diamond Crystal kosher salt weighs about 3g per teaspoon. Different crystal shapes pack differently, so recipes written with one brand will be dramatically under- or over-salted with the other when measured by volume.

Explore More Kitchen Math

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Data sources: USDA FoodData Central (Foundation Foods, Dec 2025) and King Arthur Flour weight charts. All measurements use the spooned-and-leveled method unless noted. · Cups to Grams Calculator · Why do cups vary?