ml to Grams Calculator
Milliliters measure volume; grams measure mass. To convert between them you need the density of your ingredient. Select from 35+ pre-loaded cooking ingredients - water, flour, sugar, honey, milk, oil and more - or enter a custom density. Type a volume in ml to get the weight in grams, or enter grams to reverse-convert back to ml. The result updates instantly.
Formula
Worked example
250 ml of all-purpose flour: density = 0.593 g/ml. Weight = 250 × 0.593 = 148.25 g. Reverse: 148.25 g ÷ 0.593 = 250 ml.
Why ml and grams are not the same thing
Milliliters (ml) are a unit of volume - they describe how much space a substance occupies. Grams (g) are a unit of mass - they describe how much matter is present. For water at room temperature the two happen to align almost perfectly (1 ml = 1 g), which is why many people treat them as equivalent. But as soon as you change the substance you change the relationship. A milliliter of honey weighs 1.42 g because honey is denser than water; a milliliter of all-purpose flour weighs only about 0.59 g because flour is much less dense. This calculator uses the specific density of your chosen ingredient to give you the correct conversion every time, rather than assuming everything is water.
How to use this calculator
Select your ingredient from the dropdown. The calculator has 35+ pre-loaded densities for common cooking ingredients including various flours, sugars, oils, dairy products, sweeteners, and condiments. If your ingredient is not listed, choose "Custom ingredient" and enter its density in g/ml (you can usually find this on the manufacturer label or a food database). Then choose the direction: ml to grams, or grams to ml. Type your quantity and the result appears immediately. The Show your work panel breaks the calculation into steps so you can check the arithmetic yourself.
The conversion formula
The formula is straightforward. To convert milliliters to grams, multiply the volume by the density: grams = ml x density (g/ml). To go the other direction, divide: ml = grams / density (g/ml). For example, 100 ml of olive oil: 100 x 0.911 = 91.1 g. Reverse: 91.1 g / 0.911 = 100 ml. The density is the only factor that changes across ingredients, which is why this one formula covers every substance in the list.
Dry ingredients and density variability
For liquids, density is stable and well-defined at a given temperature. Dry ingredients are more variable because the density depends on how the ingredient is measured. Flour spooned lightly into a cup has a lower density than flour scooped directly from the bag and packed down; sifted flour is even lighter. The values in this calculator use "lightly spooned" as the standard for dry ingredients, which aligns with most recipe conventions. If a recipe calls for "firmly packed" brown sugar or "sifted" cake flour, the actual density at your measurement may differ by 10 to 20 percent from the table value. When precision matters, weigh your ingredients on a kitchen scale rather than converting from a volume measure.
Density of common cooking ingredients
| Ingredient | Density (g/ml) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 1.000 | Reference standard at 20 C |
| Milk (whole) | 1.030 | Whole cow milk |
| Milk (skim) | 1.035 | Fat-free cow milk |
| Heavy cream (38% fat) | 0.994 | Whipping cream |
| Light cream (13% fat) | 1.012 | Table or coffee cream |
| Butter (melted) | 0.911 | Fully liquid clarified |
| Olive oil | 0.911 | Virgin or extra-virgin |
| Vegetable oil | 0.920 | Canola/sunflower blend |
| Coconut oil | 0.924 | Liquid state above 24 C |
| Flour (all-purpose) | 0.593 | Lightly spooned |
| Flour (cake) | 0.476 | Sifted cake flour |
| Flour (whole wheat) | 0.618 | Lightly spooned |
| Flour (bread) | 0.593 | Lightly spooned |
| Almond flour | 0.402 | Blanched, lightly packed |
| Sugar (white granulated) | 0.845 | Standard granulated |
| Sugar (brown, packed) | 0.722 | Lightly packed |
| Sugar (powdered / icing) | 0.561 | Unsifted |
| Sugar (raw / turbinado) | 0.849 | Coarse raw crystals |
| Honey | 1.420 | Clover honey at 20 C |
| Maple syrup | 1.324 | Grade A at 20 C |
| Molasses | 1.410 | Unsulfured |
| Salt (table) | 1.217 | Fine-grained iodized |
| Salt (kosher flake) | 0.746 | Diamond Crystal style |
| Baking soda | 0.689 | Sodium bicarbonate |
| Baking powder | 0.706 | Double-acting |
| Cocoa powder | 0.641 | Natural unsweetened |
| Cornstarch | 0.609 | Maize starch |
| Rolled oats | 0.410 | Old-fashioned oats |
| Rice (raw) | 0.903 | Long-grain white |
| Rice (cooked) | 0.800 | Boiled, drained |
| Yogurt (plain) | 1.040 | Full-fat yogurt |
| Cream cheese | 1.050 | Block style |
| Peanut butter | 1.090 | Smooth, commercial |
| Soy sauce | 1.090 | Standard |
| Ketchup | 1.130 | Tomato ketchup |
| Vinegar | 1.006 | Distilled white |
| Lemon juice | 1.030 | Fresh squeezed |
Density values at approximately 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). Dry ingredient densities assume a lightly spooned, not packed or sifted, measure unless noted.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is 1 ml?
For water, 1 ml equals 1 gram exactly (at 4 degrees C; very close to 1 g at room temperature). For other substances it depends on the density. 1 ml of honey is 1.42 g; 1 ml of all-purpose flour is about 0.59 g; 1 ml of olive oil is about 0.91 g. Use the ingredient selector above to get the correct value for your substance.
Can I convert 250 ml to grams?
Yes. Enter 250 in the volume field and select your ingredient. For water: 250 ml = 250 g. For flour: 250 ml x 0.593 = 148.25 g. For honey: 250 ml x 1.42 = 355 g. The calculator does this arithmetic automatically as soon as you type the number.
Is 1 ml of milk equal to 1 gram?
Almost, but not exactly. Whole milk has a density of about 1.030 g/ml, so 1 ml of milk weighs 1.03 g. For 100 ml that difference is 3 g, which is small but can matter in precise baking recipes. Use the Milk (whole) option in this calculator to get the correct result.
Why does flour have such a low density?
Flour is a fine powder that traps a large amount of air between the particles. That air adds to the volume without adding to the mass, so the overall density of a cup of flour is much lower than a cup of something compact like salt or honey. All-purpose flour spooned into a cup has a density of roughly 0.593 g/ml, which means 100 ml of flour weighs only about 59 g, compared to 100 g for water.
How do I convert ml to grams for a custom ingredient?
Select "Custom ingredient" from the dropdown. A field labelled "Custom density" will appear. Enter the density of your ingredient in g/ml. You can usually find this on the product label (look for "density" or calculate it from a weight-per-volume specification). Then enter your volume in ml and the calculator will convert it to grams using your custom density.
Does temperature affect the conversion?
Yes, slightly. Density changes with temperature - most substances expand as they heat, lowering their density. For water, the change from 4 C to 100 C is only about 4 percent, which is negligible for cooking. For oils and fats the effect can be a bit larger. The density values in this calculator are calibrated to approximately 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), which is standard kitchen temperature.
Can I convert grams back to ml?
Yes. Use the "Convert" toggle to switch from "ml to grams" to "grams to ml". Enter your weight in grams, select your ingredient, and the calculator divides by the density to give you the volume in milliliters.