How this calculator works
A container volume only gives a mass when the density is known. Choose a recipe preset or supply your own density. The food preset gram amounts come from King Arthur Baking, with each cup interpreted as 236.5882365 mL. Water uses the approximate 1 g/mL convention described by USGS. Food presets estimate bulk density, including air spaces in powders and whole ingredients. The international pound is exactly 453.59237 g, but an ingredient estimate does not become exact when converted into pounds.
Formula
lb = mL x density in g/mL / 453.59237. mL = lb x 453.59237 / density. The pound factor is exact. Ingredient densities and their resulting pounds-per-mL factors are estimates.
Worked example
For a custom density of 1 g/mL, 453.59237 mL has a mass of exactly 1 lb within that assumption. With the flour preset, one US cup (236.5882365 mL) holds about 120 g, or 0.264554715 lb. Two pounds at a custom density of 0.8 g/mL occupies 1133.980925 mL.
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Frequently asked questions
Is 1 mL always 1 g?
No. That is a useful approximation for water under suitable conditions. Flour, oil and honey have different densities, and their masses differ at equal volumes.
Can I enter pounds to find a container volume?
Yes. Choose pounds in the convert-from selector. The calculator divides the mass by the selected density and reports millilitres.
Should I choose the same density for whole and ground nuts?
No. Their bulk densities differ because of the spaces between pieces. Choose the stated preparation or enter a density measured for your product.
What changes the density of a liquid?
Temperature and composition can both change it. Use a density appropriate to the actual material and conditions when the result needs more precision than a recipe estimate.