How to measure flour correctly: cups vs grams
Quick answer: the most accurate way to measure flour is by weight. One US cup of all-purpose flour is about 120 to 125 grams when spooned and leveled. If you use cups, spoon the flour in and level it off. Do not scoop with the cup.
Why flour is so easy to get wrong
Flour packs down in the bag. If you push a measuring cup into it, you compress the flour and collect much more than a cup’s worth. A scooped cup can weigh 20 percent or more above a spooned one. In a cake or bread recipe, that is enough extra flour to make the result dry, dense or tough.
Method 1: weigh it (best)
- Put a bowl on a kitchen scale and press the tare button to reset it to zero.
- Add flour until the scale shows the weight in the recipe.
If the recipe only gives cups, use about 125 g per cup for all-purpose flour. Different flours vary: whole wheat is usually a bit heavier per cup, and cake flour a bit lighter.
Method 2: spoon and level
- Fluff the flour in its container with a fork or whisk.
- Use a large spoon to pour flour lightly into a dry measuring cup until it overflows.
- Sweep the flat edge of a knife across the top to level it.
Do not tap or shake the cup, which packs the flour down.
Should you sift?
Sifting adds air and makes flour lighter. Recipes that say “1 cup sifted flour” want the flour sifted before measuring. Recipes that say “1 cup flour, sifted” want you to measure first, then sift. The difference can be around 10 percent, so read the wording.
Use the right kind of cup
Use a dry measuring cup (a flat-topped cup in graduated sizes) for flour, sugar and other dry ingredients. Use a liquid measuring cup, which has a spout and markings below the rim, for milk, water and oil. Measuring flour in a liquid cup makes leveling impossible.
Converting flour cups to grams
| Cups | Grams (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 30 g |
| 1/3 cup | 40 g |
| 1/2 cup | 60 g |
| 1 cup | 120 to 125 g |
| 2 cups | 240 to 250 g |
Because of the variation, treat these as a starting point, not an exact value. See cups to grams: why there is no single answer for the reasons.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams are in a cup of flour? About 120 to 125.
How many cups are in 500 g of flour? About 4 cups.
Does it matter for cooking (not baking)? Rarely. A roux or gravy can absorb differences. Baking is where it counts.
Convert weights with our grams to ounces converter, and learn how to convert grams to ounces.