Metric cup versus US cup
NIST describes a metric cup of 250 mL and discusses approximate US customary equivalents around 237–240 mL. FDA's 240 mL value is specifically for nutrition labelling, not a universal rule for every recipe.
Some regional recipes also use a 250 mL Australian or Canadian-style cup. Check the recipe's country and any millilitre value before converting.
A cup does not have a universal gram weight
Grams measure mass; cups measure volume. One metric cup of flour, sugar, butter, water, and honey will not weigh the same. Use PantryGauge's ingredient selector and keep the grams-per-cup source beside the result.
King Arthur's chart is ingredient-specific: for example, it lists 120 g per cup of all-purpose flour and 198 g per cup of granulated sugar. Those are chart references, not a universal metric-cup law.
Tablespoons also change by region
NIST and FDA use a 15 mL tablespoon in their household-measure guidance. Some Australian cooking charts use a 20 mL tablespoon. Do not combine a regional tablespoon with a different cup system without labelling the convention.
Questions readers ask
Is a metric cup 250 mL?
Yes. This page uses the NIST metric-cup convention of 250 mL.
Is a US cup 240 mL or 237 mL?
Both values appear in different contexts. NIST discusses approximate customary equivalents around 237–240 mL, while FDA uses 240 mL for nutrition labelling. Recipe context matters.
How many grams are in a metric cup?
There is no universal answer. The ingredient's density and preparation state are required before converting volume to mass.
Is a metric tablespoon always 15 mL?
NIST and FDA use 15 mL, but some regional cooking systems use a 20 mL tablespoon. Follow the recipe's stated country or millilitre convention.
Sources and method
Numerical answers are tied to the stated ingredient, state, cup convention, and source. Derived values are calculated from the cited reference and rounded for kitchen use.