Ask how many grams are in a millilitre and the answer is usually 'one'. That is true for water and almost nothing else. A millilitre of honey is nearly one and a half grams, a millilitre of oil is under a gram, and a millilitre of flour is around half a gram.
This ml to grams converter uses the density of the ingredient to give a result you can trust in the kitchen. If your ingredient is not on the list, enter its density yourself.
How to use the ml to Grams Converter#
- Choose the direction. Pick ml to grams, or grams to ml.
- Enter the amount. Type the volume in millilitres or the weight in grams.
- Pick the ingredient. This sets the density. Choose Other to type your own.
- Read the result. You get the answer plus ounces, US cups, fluid ounces and the density used.
The formula#
Weight equals volume times density. Density is the number of grams in one millilitre, so grams equal millilitres multiplied by the density. To go the other way, divide grams by the density. Water is the reference, at 1 gram per millilitre, since the gram was originally defined by the mass of a cubic centimetre of water. Strictly, water is 0.998 grams per millilitre at room temperature, and the difference is far below what any kitchen can measure.
Everything else has its own density. Oil floats on water because it is lighter, at about 0.92. Honey sinks in water because it is heavier, at about 1.4.
Density of common ingredients#
| Ingredient | Grams per mL | 100 mL weighs | 250 mL weighs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 1.00 | 100 g | 250 g |
| Milk | 1.04 | 104 g | 259 g |
| Vegetable oil | 0.92 | 92 g | 230 g |
| Honey | 1.44 | 144 g | 359 g |
| Butter | 0.96 | 96 g | 240 g |
| Granulated sugar | 0.85 | 85 g | 211 g |
| Powdered sugar | 0.51 | 51 g | 127 g |
| All-purpose flour | 0.53 | 53 g | 132 g |
| Cocoa powder | 0.36 | 36 g | 90 g |
| Table salt | 1.22 | 122 g | 304 g |
These values come from standard ingredient weights per US cup, divided by the 236.6 millilitres in a cup. Flour and powdered ingredients vary the most, depending on how they are scooped or sifted.
A worked example#
A recipe asks for 250 millilitres of milk. Milk has a density of about 1.04 grams per millilitre, so 250 millilitres weighs about 259 grams. If you were measuring honey, the same 250 millilitres would weigh about 359 grams, and flour about 132 grams. The right amount in grams depends on what is in the jug, and the measure on the side of the jug is not enough.
Entering your own density#
If an ingredient is missing, choose Other and enter its density. You can find it on a product label when it lists both weight and volume, or measure it. Weigh an empty jug, add a known volume of the ingredient, and weigh it again. Divide the grams of ingredient by the millilitres. Syrups, sauces and creams usually fall between 1.0 and 1.4, and oils between 0.90 and 0.93.
Temperature and air#
Liquids expand a little when heated, so a hot liquid has a slightly lower density than a cold one. The effect is small for cooking. Air matters far more. Powders such as flour, cocoa and icing sugar trap air, and shaking or sifting them changes how much fits in a given volume. That is why bakers prefer weighing to measuring. For these ingredients a density is an average, and the best use of this converter is to plan, not to replace the scale.
Reading a measuring jug#
The scale on the side of a jug is only as good as the way you read it. Put the jug on a flat surface and bend down so your eye is level with the mark. Liquids curve slightly where they meet the glass, and the volume is read at the bottom of the curve. Small amounts are inaccurate in a large jug, since the lines are far apart, so use a small jug or a syringe for amounts under 50 millilitres. Pour slowly near the line and add the last bit with a spoon. If you weigh the liquid instead, using the density from the converter, you avoid reading errors altogether, and it is quicker for thick ingredients such as honey or cream that cling to the jug.
Frequently asked questions#
For water, one gram. For other ingredients it depends on the density, from about 0.5 for flour to about 1.4 for honey.
About 103 to 104 grams.
About 92 grams.
About 53 grams, using 125 grams per US cup.
No. Only water is one to one. Milk is a little heavier, oil is lighter and honey much heavier.
Yes. Choose Other and enter the density of the liquid.
Sources and further reading#
- King Arthur Baking: Ingredient Weight Chart. Weights per cup for flour, sugar, butter, honey and more.
- USDA FoodData Central. Food composition and household measure weights.
- NIST Special Publication 811: Guide for the Use of the International System of Units. Exact definitions of the inch, pound, ounce and the units derived from them.
- Wikipedia: Density. Definition and the density of water.