How Much Is 1 Cup of All-Purpose Flour in Pounds?
1 cup of all-purpose flour weighs 0.28 lb. This is based on all-purpose flour having a density of 125.16g per cup. Because cups measure volume and pounds measure weight, the result depends on the ingredient, and a different ingredient would give a different result for the same 1 cup.
Formula and Step-by-Step
- Start with 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour = 125.16g
- 1 × 125.16 = 125.16g
- Convert grams to pounds: 125.16 ÷ 453.592 = 0.28 lb
The same formula works for any amount. Multiply (or divide) by the density, then convert units as needed.
Measuring Tip
Different flour types have very different weights per cup. Always check the specific flour your recipe calls for rather than using a generic "flour" conversion.
All-Purpose Flour at Different Amounts
How all-purpose flour scales across common cups measurements. Your amount (1 cup) is highlighted.
For reference, 1 cup of all-purpose flour (125.16g) is close in weight to a small apple (130g).
Other Amounts of All-Purpose Flour
| Cups | US Pounds | Metric Cup | Imperial Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 cups | 0.07 lb | 0.07 lb | 0.08 lb |
| 0.33 cups | 0.09 lb | 0.10 lb | 0.11 lb |
| 0.5 cups | 0.14 lb | 0.15 lb | 0.17 lb |
| 0.75 cups | 0.21 lb | 0.22 lb | 0.25 lb |
| 1 cup | 0.28 lb | 0.29 lb | 0.33 lb |
| 1.5 cups | 0.41 lb | 0.44 lb | 0.50 lb |
| 2 cups | 0.55 lb | 0.58 lb | 0.66 lb |
| 3 cups | 0.83 lb | 0.87 lb | 0.99 lb |
| 4 cups | 1.10 lb | 1.17 lb | 1.33 lb |
| 5 cups | 1.38 lb | 1.46 lb | 1.66 lb |
Understanding the Units
What is a Cup?
There are three cup standards used worldwide. The US cup (236.588 ml) is used in American recipes. The metric cup (250 ml) is standard in Australia, New Zealand, and some parts of Asia. The imperial cup (284.131 ml) appears in older British and Canadian recipes. A metric cup holds about 5.7% more than a US cup, while an imperial cup holds about 20% more. Using the wrong standard can noticeably affect a recipe.
What is a Pound?
A pound (lb) is a US customary unit of weight equal to 453.592 grams or 16 ounces. It is used for larger quantities of ingredients like flour, sugar, and meat.