Which cup does a recipe mean?
A cup is not one fixed international volume. This tool starts with the US customary cup used by most American recipes (236.588 ml). Use the selector when a recipe specifies a US legal cup (240 ml), a metric cup (250 ml), or an imperial cup (284.131 ml). The selected standard changes every cup result and its gram equivalent.
Grams also depend on the ingredient. Flour, sugar and honey can occupy the same volume but have very different weights. Sifting, packing and brand can shift an ingredient by a few grams, so a kitchen scale remains the most reliable choice for precise baking.
Ingredient Measurement Table (1 US Cup = 236.588 ml)
| Ingredient | 1 Cup | 1 Tablespoon | 1 Teaspoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flour (Wheat) | 118 g | 7 g | 2 g |
| Whole Wheat Flour | 128 g | 8 g | 3 g |
| Rice Flour | 140 g | 9 g | 3 g |
| Corn Flour | 146 g | 9 g | 3 g |
| Semolina | 161 g | 10 g | 3 g |
| Breadcrumbs | 106 g | 7 g | 2 g |
| Granulated Sugar | 198 g | 12 g | 4 g |
| Powdered Sugar | 111 g | 7 g | 2 g |
| Brown Sugar | 211 g | 13 g | 4 g |
| Salt (Table Salt) | 284 g | 18 g | 6 g |
| Rice | 182 g | 11 g | 4 g |
| Bulgur (Fine) | 163 g | 10 g | 3 g |
| Chickpeas (Dry) | 193 g | 12 g | 4 g |
| Red Lentils | 193 g | 12 g | 4 g |
| Green Lentils | 182 g | 11 g | 4 g |
| Dry Beans | 193 g | 12 g | 4 g |
| Milk | 243 g | 15 g | 5 g |
| Yogurt | 248 g | 16 g | 5 g |
| Heavy Cream | 243 g | 15 g | 5 g |
| Butter | 225 g | 14 g | 5 g |
| Margarine | 225 g | 14 g | 5 g |
| Olive Oil | 218 g | 14 g | 5 g |
| Vegetable Oil | 215 g | 13 g | 4 g |
| Honey | 337 g | 21 g | 7 g |
| Grape Molasses | 331 g | 21 g | 7 g |
| Cocoa Powder | 85 g | 5 g | 2 g |
| Rolled Oats | 89 g | 6 g | 2 g |
| Cornstarch | 127 g | 8 g | 3 g |
| Baking Powder | 189 g | 12 g | 4 g |
| Baking Soda | 216 g | 14 g | 5 g |
| Sesame Seeds | 142 g | 9 g | 3 g |
| Walnuts (Chopped) | 118 g | 7 g | 2 g |
| Hazelnuts | 124 g | 8 g | 3 g |
| Almonds | 141 g | 9 g | 3 g |
| Pistachios | 130 g | 8 g | 3 g |
| Raisins | 163 g | 10 g | 3 g |
| Desiccated Coconut | 89 g | 6 g | 2 g |
| Mayonnaise | 260 g | 16 g | 5 g |
| Ketchup | 284 g | 18 g | 6 g |
| Vinegar | 243 g | 15 g | 5 g |
| Lemon Juice | 237 g | 15 g | 5 g |
| Ground Cinnamon | 118 g | 7 g | 2 g |
| Ground Red Pepper | 118 g | 7 g | 2 g |
| Ground Black Pepper | 118 g | 7 g | 2 g |
| Ground Cumin | 106 g | 7 g | 2 g |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ml or teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
A US tablespoon is 14.79 ml (half a US fluid ounce) and equals 3 US teaspoons of 4.93 ml; 16 tablespoons make one US customary cup (236.588 ml). Metric, UK and nutrition-label (US legal) recipes use a 15 ml tablespoon and a 5 ml teaspoon — the converter switches spoon sizes with the cup standard you choose.
Is a cup 240 ml or 250 ml?
Both can be correct in context. US nutrition labels commonly use a 240 ml legal cup, while metric recipes commonly use a 250 ml cup. Most American recipes use the 236.588 ml US customary cup. Select the standard that matches the recipe before scaling it.
Why does the same cup weigh differently for different ingredients?
Cups and spoons measure volume (milliliters), while grams measure weight. The link between the two depends on the ingredient's density — airy ingredients like flour weigh far less than dense ones like honey for the same volume.
Want to scale an entire recipe at once (double it, halve it)? Try the recipe converter — paste your recipe, pick a multiplier, and see every line scaled instantly.
Sources
Cup volumes use their named measurement standards. Ingredient values are rounded practical averages; they are guides rather than laboratory measurements.