Convert Plain Flour from Pounds to Cup

How many cups is 1 pound of plain flour?

1 pound of plain flour (All-Purpose Flour) is 3.24 cups. 2 pounds of plain flour is 6.48 cups. 1/2 pound of plain flour is 1.62 cups. 1/4 pound (0.25 pound) of plain flour is 0.81 cups. Use the converter below for any amount.

  • These figures use the metric cup (250 ml). A US cup is slightly smaller at 240 ml, so it holds a little less. Use the US cup converter →
  • Cup sizes are not standard worldwide, so the same cup of an ingredient can weigh more or less depending on the country. What is a cup measurement →
  • Flour settles, so a cup's weight depends on how it is filled. This page uses 140 g for a metric cup spooned and levelled. Sifted it can drop to about 125 g; scooped and packed it can reach 160 g. Weigh for the most reliable result.

Plain flour (also known as all-purpose flour) is one of the most commonly used ingredients in baking and cooking. It has a moderate protein content, making it versatile enough for pastries, breads, sauces, and coatings. In the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, it’s called plain flour, while in the US and Canada, it’s known as all-purpose flour.

Since different countries use different measurement systems (and flour can settle when scooped), converting between grams, cups, and tablespoons helps ensure your recipes turn out just right. Use this page to easily convert plain flour for any recipe.

Also known as

  • All-Purpose Flour

Plain Flour Calculator

Don't have self-raising flour? Use our calculator to make it from scratch.

Self Raising Flour Calculator

Cake flour is softer and lower in protein than plain flour (around 7 to 9% vs 10 to 12%), giving a more tender crumb. It is lighter per cup (130 g vs 140 g); for a quick stand-in when out of cake flour, sift 1 cup of plain flour with 2 tablespoons removed and replaced with cornstarch. See our Cake Flour converter.

Bread flour carries more protein than plain flour (around 12 to 14% vs 10 to 12%), giving stronger gluten and a chewier crumb in yeasted bakes. It is slightly heavier per cup (150 g vs 140 g); swap by weight in pizza, sandwich loaves, and bagels for a more open, chewy texture. See our Bread Flour converter.

Self-raising flour is plain flour with baking powder already blended in, matched in weight per cup (140 g each). Use the self-raising flour calculator to make your own from plain flour, or swap to plain flour and add your own leavener. See our Self Raising Flour converter.

Out of plain flour? See plain flour substitutes →

No scale? The tool below gives a good estimate, but for exact bakes a digital kitchen scale removes the guesswork.

Plain Flour Measurement Converter

Enter a value and pick your units.

Result

0 Cup

Common Plain Flour Conversions

Here are the most common plain flour conversions from pounds to cups.

PoundsCups
1 lb3.24 cups
2 lb6.48 cups
4 lb12.96 cups
6 lb19.44 cups

Plain Flour Conversion Chart

The conversion chart below gives a quick reference for converting plain flour from Pounds to Cup and other measurements.

lbcupgramsounceskgcup(US)tbsptsp
1 lb3.24 cup453.59 g16 oz0.45 kg3.37 cup (US)54 tbsp162 tsp
2 lb6.48 cup907.19 g32 oz0.91 kg6.75 cup (US)108 tbsp323.99 tsp
4 lb12.96 cup1814.37 g64 oz1.81 kg13.5 cup (US)216 tbsp647.99 tsp
6 lb19.44 cup2721.56 g96 oz2.72 kg20.25 cup (US)323.99 tbsp971.98 tsp

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 1 pound of plain flour in cups?
1 pound of plain flour is 3.24 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 2 pounds of plain flour is 6.48 cups and 0.5 pounds is 1.62 cups. Use the converter above for any quantity, or check the conversion chart on this page for the most common amounts at a glance. Open the plain flour converter
How many cups is 1.5 pounds of plain flour?
1.5 pounds of plain flour is 4.86 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 pound of plain flour is 3.24 cups and 2 pounds is 6.48 cups. Type any other amount into the converter above for the exact figure, or use the chart below for the common ones.
What is 2 pounds of plain flour in cups?
2 pounds of plain flour is 6.48 cups. Conversions scale in a straight line, so halving or doubling a recipe keeps the same ratio. 1 pound of plain flour is 3.24 cups, and you can multiply or divide that figure to match whatever your recipe needs. Enter any amount in the converter above for an exact cups reading.
How many pounds of plain flour is 3.24 cups?
3.24 cups of plain flour is 1 pound. The conversion works the same in reverse, so you can switch between cups and pounds without changing the result. This helps when a recipe lists pounds but you would rather weigh or measure in cups. The converter above and the chart below cover both directions for any amount.
How many cups is 1 pound of All-Purpose Flour?
All-Purpose Flour is another name for plain flour, so 1 pound of All-Purpose Flour is 3.24 cups, exactly the same as plain flour. The figure does not change with the name: 2 pounds is 6.48 cups and 0.5 pounds is 1.62 cups. Use the converter above for any quantity, or read the conversion chart on this page for the most common amounts.
Are plain flour and All-Purpose Flour the same thing?
Yes. All-Purpose Flour is another name for plain flour, so they are the same ingredient and convert identically. 1 pound of plain flour is 3.24 cups under either name, and 2 pounds is 6.48 cups. Recipes use the two names interchangeably, so you can follow either one without changing quantities or weighing any differently.
What is 1/2 lb plain flour in cups?
1/2 pound of plain flour is 1.62 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 pound of plain flour is 3.24 cups and 2 pounds is 6.48 cups. Half measures come up often when scaling a recipe down, and the figure divides cleanly. Use the converter above for any other amount, or the chart below for the common ones.
What is 1/4 lb plain flour in cups?
1/4 pound (0.25 pound) of plain flour is 0.81 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 pound of plain flour is 3.24 cups and 2 pounds is 6.48 cups. Quarter amounts often come up when scaling a recipe down step by step, and the figure divides cleanly. Use the converter above for any other quantity, or the chart below for the most common amounts.
Why does a cup of flour vary in weight?
Flour compresses easily, so how you fill the cup changes the weight. Spooned lightly and levelled, a metric cup of plain flour is about 140 grams. Sifted first it can fall to around 125 grams, while scooping straight from the bag and packing it down can push it to 160 grams. For consistent baking, weigh flour on a scale rather than measuring by cup.

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