CookMeasure“Ounce” means two different things in American recipes. A fluid ounce (fl oz) is volume: 29.57 ml, and there are exactly 8 in a cup. An ounce (oz) is weight: 28.35 g. Water happens to make the two nearly match, which is why the confusion survives. For anything else, the weight of a cup depends on what’s in it.
Fluid ounces vs weight ounces
Fluid ounces in a cup chart
| Cups | Fluid ounces | Millilitres | Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⅛ cup | 1 fl oz | 30 ml | 2 tbsp |
| ¼ cup | 2 fl oz | 59 ml | 4 tbsp |
| ⅓ cup | 2.67 fl oz | 79 ml | 5.33 tbsp |
| ½ cup | 4 fl oz | 118.3 ml | 8 tbsp |
| ⅔ cup | 5.33 fl oz | 157.7 ml | 10.67 tbsp |
| ¾ cup | 6 fl oz | 177.4 ml | 12 tbsp |
| 1 cup | 8 fl oz | 236.6 ml | 16 tbsp |
| 2 cup | 16 fl oz | 473.2 ml | 32 tbsp |
| 4 cup | 32 fl oz | 946.4 ml | 64 tbsp |
Weight ounces in a cup, by ingredient
| 1 cup of | Ounces | Grams |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 4.2 oz | 120 g |
| Bread flour | 4.2 oz | 120 g |
| Whole wheat flour | 4 oz | 113 g |
| Cake flour | 4.2 oz | 120 g |
| Almond flour | 3.4 oz | 96 g |
| Cornstarch | 4 oz | 112 g |
| Cornmeal | 4.9 oz | 138 g |
| Semolina | 5.7 oz | 163 g |
| Rolled oats | 3.1 oz | 89 g |
| Rice (uncooked, long grain) | 6.5 oz | 185 g |
| Granulated sugar | 7 oz | 198 g |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 7.5 oz | 213 g |
| Powdered sugar | 4 oz | 113 g |
| Honey | 11.9 oz | 336 g |
| Maple syrup | 11 oz | 312 g |
| Butter | 8 oz | 227 g |
| Milk | 8.5 oz | 242 g |
| Heavy cream | 8.4 oz | 238 g |
| Plain yogurt | 8.6 oz | 245 g |
| Sour cream | 8.1 oz | 230 g |
| Vegetable oil | 7.7 oz | 218 g |
| Shredded cheddar | 4 oz | 113 g |
| Water | 8.4 oz | 237 g |
| Cocoa powder | 3 oz | 84 g |
US vs UK ounces
The UK imperial fluid ounce is 28.41 ml, about 4% smaller than the US one, and an imperial pint holds 20 of them rather than 16. Weight ounces are the same in both countries.
Questions cooks ask
How many ounces are in a cup?
There are 8 fluid ounces in a US cup. That is a volume measure. By weight, a cup holds anywhere from about 3 oz (cocoa) to nearly 12 oz (honey), depending on the ingredient.
How many ounces in half a cup?
Half a US cup is 4 fluid ounces (118 ml).
How many ounces in a cup of water?
A cup of water is 8 fluid ounces by volume and weighs about 8.3 ounces (237 g).
Is 8 oz of flour 1 cup?
No. 8 oz by weight is 227 g, which is almost 2 cups of all-purpose flour. One cup of flour weighs about 4.25 oz.
How many ounces are in 1 dry cup?
A dry measuring cup holds the same 8 fluid ounces of volume, but its weight in ounces depends on the ingredient: about 4.25 oz of flour, 7 oz of sugar, 3.1 oz of rolled oats or 6.5 oz of rice.
Is 8 oz equal to 1 cup?
8 fluid ounces is exactly 1 US cup. 8 ounces by weight is 1 cup only for water and similar liquids; 8 oz of flour is nearly 2 cups.
Is 4 oz the same as a cup?
No. 4 fluid ounces is half a cup (118 ml). By weight, 4 oz (113 g) is one stick of butter, also ½ cup.
Is 1 cup 8 oz dry?
Only by volume. A cup of a dry ingredient almost never weighs 8 oz — weigh it or use the ingredient table on this page.
How many ounces in a UK cup?
An old imperial cup is 10 imperial fluid ounces (284 ml). A modern metric cup is 250 ml, or about 8.45 US fl oz.