Flour conversions
Flours look alike but do not weigh the same per cup. Bread flour carries a little more protein and weight, while whole wheat flour is coarser and settles in the bag, so stir it before measuring.
A pound of bread flour fills about 3.57 cups, while a pound of whole wheat flour fills about 3.78 cups.
Flour weight and volume compared
| Ingredient | Grams per cup | Ounces per cup | Cups per pound | Cups per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 125 g | 4.41 oz | 3.63 | 0.8 |
| Bread flour | 127 g | 4.48 oz | 3.57 | 0.787 |
| Whole wheat flour | 120 g | 4.23 oz | 3.78 | 0.833 |
Measuring flour accurately
Weigh flour when you can. If you must use cups, fluff the flour in its bag, spoon it into the cup and sweep it level; scooping directly packs in up to 20% more. Whole wheat flour should be stirred first because the bran settles. For cake flour or pastry flour, which are finer and lighter, sift before measuring if the recipe says "sifted".
How to measure each one
- All-purpose flour: For the most consistent result, fluff the flour, spoon it into a cup, and level the top with a straight edge.
- Bread flour: Avoid packing bread flour into the cup; spoon and level for a repeatable measurement.
- Whole wheat flour: Stir the flour before measuring because bran can settle and create uneven cups.
Swapping one for another
When substituting within this group, swap by weight rather than by cup. For example, 1 cup of whole wheat flour weighs 120 g; the same weight of all-purpose flour is 0.96 cups. Matching the weight keeps the recipe balanced even though the volumes differ.
Buying and storing
Flour is sold by weight, so a 5 lb bag of all-purpose flour holds about 18 cups and a 2 kg bag about 16. Store flour airtight in a cool cupboard; whole wheat flour contains oils from the bran and keeps best in the fridge or freezer.
Flour questions
How many cups are in a pound of all-purpose flour?
About 3.63 cups. One cup of all-purpose flour weighs 125 g, or 4.41 oz.
How many cups are in a pound of bread flour?
About 3.57 cups. One cup of bread flour weighs 127 g, or 4.48 oz.
How many cups are in a pound of whole wheat flour?
About 3.78 cups. One cup of whole wheat flour weighs 120 g, or 4.23 oz.