How do you convert mL to grams?

To convert millilitres to grams, multiply the volume in mL by the density of the substance in g/mL. The formula is: mass (g) = volume (mL) x density (g/mL). For water, the density is 1 g/mL, so 1 mL equals 1 gram. For other substances the density differs: flour is about 0.53 g/mL, so 100 mL of flour weighs approximately 53 g. Always check the density for the specific substance you are measuring.

Is 1 mL equal to 1 gram?

1 mL equals 1 gram only for water at approximately 4 degrees Celsius (its maximum density). For other substances, the conversion depends on density. Milk is close to water at about 1.03 g/mL, so 1 mL of milk weighs around 1.03 g. Cooking oil is lighter than water at about 0.92 g/mL, meaning 1 mL of oil weighs only 0.92 g. Flour is much lighter at about 0.53 g/mL, so 1 mL of flour weighs around 0.53 g. Honey is heavier at about 1.42 g/mL.

Why do recipes sometimes list ingredients in mL and sometimes in grams?

Liquid ingredients like water, milk, and oil are often given in millilitres because they are easy to measure in a jug or measuring cup. Dry ingredients like flour, sugar, and cocoa are more accurately measured by weight in grams because the volume of a dry ingredient varies depending on how tightly it is packed. A lightly scooped cup of flour and a firmly packed cup can differ in mass by 20 to 30 percent. Weighing in grams produces more consistent and accurate baking results.

mL to Grams Calculator

Convert millilitres (mL) to grams for water, flour, sugar, milk, oil, honey, and other common substances. Because mass depends on density, 1 mL does not always equal 1 gram. Select your substance or enter a custom density, then enter the volume to get the mass instantly.

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Reference densities Standard densities at approximately 20 degrees Celsius and standard atmospheric pressure, except water, which is given as its nominal 1.000 g/mL value.

1. Volume to Convert

Volume (mL)

Substance

Custom density (g/mL)

g/mL

2. Quick Reference Volumes

Common cooking volumes

Note: Densities for dry ingredients like flour and sugar are approximate and depend on how tightly the ingredient is packed. Sifted flour is lighter than scooped flour. For precise baking results, weighing on a scale is more accurate than using a measuring cup.

Conversion Result

Result
-
grams

Volume

millilitres

Density Used

g/mL

Per mL

grams per mL

Common Volumes Converted for Selected Substance

Volume	Common Measure	Mass (g)

Calculation Breakdown

Substance-

Density-

Volume-

Formulamass = volume x density

Mass-

Reverse: Grams to mL

If you have this mass-

Density-

Formulavolume = mass / density

Volume-

How to Convert mL to Grams

Volume and mass are different physical properties. Millilitres measure volume (how much space a substance occupies), while grams measure mass (how much matter it contains). To convert between them, you need to know the density of the substance, which expresses how much mass is packed into each unit of volume.

The formula is straightforward:

Mass (g) = Volume (mL) x Density (g/mL)

For water at approximately 4 degrees Celsius, the density is exactly 1 g/mL, so 1 mL of water equals 1 gram. This is by design: the gram was originally defined as the mass of 1 mL of water. At room temperature (around 20 degrees Celsius), water's density is approximately 0.998 g/mL, which is close enough to 1 g/mL for most practical purposes.

Densities of Common Substances

Substance	Density (g/mL)	100 mL weighs
Water	1.000	100.0 g
Milk, whole	1.030	103.0 g
Milk, skim	1.035	103.5 g
Cooking oil (vegetable)	0.920	92.0 g
Olive oil	0.910	91.0 g
Honey	1.420	142.0 g
Flour, plain / all-purpose	0.530	53.0 g
Sugar, white granulated	0.850	85.0 g
Sugar, icing / powdered	0.560	56.0 g
Cocoa powder	0.500	50.0 g
Butter, melted	0.960	96.0 g
Salt, table	0.680	68.0 g
Ethanol / alcohol	0.789	78.9 g

Worked Example

Convert 100 mL of water to grams:

Volume = 100 mL
Density of water = 1.000 g/mL
Mass = 100 x 1.000 = 100.00 g

Convert 250 mL of honey to grams:

Volume = 250 mL
Density of honey = 1.420 g/mL
Mass = 250 x 1.420 = 355.00 g

Convert 125 mL (half cup) of flour to grams:

Volume = 125 mL
Density of plain flour = 0.530 g/mL
Mass = 125 x 0.530 = 66.25 g

Why mL and Grams Are Different

Many people assume that mL and grams are interchangeable, but they measure fundamentally different things. A millilitre is a unit of volume in the metric system (one thousandth of a litre). A gram is a unit of mass. The two are related only through density. A substance with a high density, like honey or salt, will weigh more per millilitre than a low-density substance like flour or cooking oil.

This distinction matters in cooking and baking. Recipes written by weight (grams) are more precise and reproducible than those written by volume, because packing, settling, and sifting can change the volume of dry ingredients significantly without changing the amount of the ingredient needed. Professional bakers and food scientists typically use mass measurements for this reason.

Related Calculators

Essential Calculators: browse all converters and tools.
Cooking Measurement Converter: convert between cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, and metric units.
Grams to Cups Converter: convert mass back to cup measures for common ingredients.
Weight Converter: convert between grams, kilograms, ounces, pounds, and more.
Density Converter: convert between density units such as g/mL, kg/m3, and lb/ft3.

Sources and method: Density values sourced from standard reference data (CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics; USDA food composition databases; manufacturer specifications for common cooking ingredients). Dry ingredient densities represent typical spooned or lightly scooped measurements at room temperature and will vary with packing method.

Dry ingredient densities (flour, sugar, cocoa) are approximations. The actual mass of a volume of dry ingredient depends on how it is measured, settled, and packed. For critical applications, always weigh ingredients on a kitchen scale rather than relying on volume conversions.