Liquid Weight to Volume Calculator

How it works

Weight and volume are linked by density: mass = volume × density. Water weighs almost exactly 1 g per millilitre, so for water a millilitre and a gram are interchangeable. Most kitchen liquids are close to water, but syrups are about 40% heavier and oil about 8% lighter.

The calculator converts your volume to millilitres (or your weight to grams) using the exact US customary definitions, then multiplies (or divides) by the liquid's density. The densities are typical values worked out from USDA FoodData Central's household-measure weights, for example 21 g for a tablespoon of honey. Choose Other to enter your own density.

A US fluid ounce is a volume, 1/8 of a cup or 29.57 mL. An ounce is a weight, 28.35 g. A fluid ounce of water weighs 1.04 oz, a fluid ounce of honey about 1.48 oz and a fluid ounce of oil about 0.96 oz, which is why a recipe's "8 oz" of honey is not the same as a cup of honey. The last output shows that weight for the liquid you chose.

Formula

grams       = millilitres × density (g/mL)
millilitres = grams ÷ density (g/mL)
1 US cup = 236.5882 mL   1 US tbsp = 14.7868 mL   1 US fl oz = 29.5735 mL
1 oz = 28.349523 g       1 lb = 453.59237 g
weight of 1 fl oz (oz) = 29.5735 × density ÷ 28.349523

Example

The default, 1 tablespoon of honey: 14.7868 mL × 1.42 g/mL = 21.0 g, or 0.74 oz. A fluid ounce of honey weighs 29.5735 × 1.42 ÷ 28.3495 = 1.481 oz.

1 cup of whole milk is 236.5882 × 1.03 = 243.7 g. Going the other way, 100 g of vegetable oil is 100 ÷ 0.92 = 108.7 mL, or 0.459 US cups.

Assumptions and limitations

• Densities are typical values derived from household-measure weights in USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, 2019): water FDC 173647 (1 L = 1000 g), whole milk FDC 171265 (1 cup = 244 g), heavy cream FDC 170859 (1 cup = 238 g), soybean oil FDC 171411 (1 cup = 218 g), honey FDC 169640 (1 tbsp = 21 g), maple syrup FDC 169661 (1 cup = 315 g), molasses FDC 168820 (1 cup = 337 g), light corn syrup FDC 168837 (1 cup = 341 g), 80-proof spirits FDC 174815 (1.5 fl oz = 42 g). Each is that weight divided by the measure's volume, rounded to two decimals.
• Real densities vary with brand, fat or sugar content and temperature by a few percent. For a different product, choose Other and enter its density.
• Volumes are US customary measures. A metric cup (250 mL) or imperial pint holds more; convert those with the kitchen measurement converter first.
• Ounces are avoirdupois weight ounces; fluid ounces are US fluid ounces.

Frequently asked questions