Lettuce converter: whole heads of lettuce, cups, grams
A taco recipe says '2 cups shredded lettuce' but all you have is a whole iceberg. A medium head weighs about 540 g, which makes a little over 7 cups when shredded. The converter below works between heads, cups, grams, ounces and pounds.
A large head of lettuce weighs 755 g against 400 g for a small one. That is about 10 cups when shredded compared to a little over 5 cups for a small lettuce, so a recipe that asks for one head can mean almost twice the lettuce. To see how many cups you will get, pick the size below.
How much does a head of lettuce weigh?
Weight runs from about 400 g (14.11 oz) for a small head of lettuce up to 755 g (26.63 oz) for a large one, with a medium, or average, one at 540 g (19.05 oz).
Lettuce converter tool
Enter an amount, pick your units, and set the size for counting whole heads of lettuce.
Result
7.2 cupsLettuce Calculators & Kitchen Tools
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Common Lettuce conversions
Quick reference for lettuce at medium size. Switch the size in the converter above for small or large.
| heads of lettuce | Cups (chopped) |
|---|---|
| 1 head of lettuce | 7.2 cups |
| 2 heads of lettuce | 14.4 cups |
| 3 heads of lettuce | 21.6 cups |
| 4 heads of lettuce | 28.8 cups |
| 5 heads of lettuce | 36 cups |
| 6 heads of lettuce | 43.2 cups |
Lettuce conversion chart
The chart below shows how whole heads of lettuce (medium size) convert to cups, grams and ounces.
| heads of lettuce | cups | cups (US) | g | oz | lb | kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 head of lettuce | 7.2 cups | 7.5 cups (US) | 540 g | 19.05 oz | 1.19 lb | 0.54 kg |
| 2 heads of lettuce | 14.4 cups | 15 cups (US) | 1080 g | 38.1 oz | 2.38 lb | 1.08 kg |
| 3 heads of lettuce | 21.6 cups | 22.5 cups (US) | 1620 g | 57.14 oz | 3.57 lb | 1.62 kg |
| 4 heads of lettuce | 28.8 cups | 30 cups (US) | 2160 g | 76.19 oz | 4.76 lb | 2.16 kg |
| 5 heads of lettuce | 36 cups | 37.5 cups (US) | 2700 g | 95.24 oz | 5.95 lb | 2.7 kg |
Lettuce varieties and best uses
The conversions above are the same whatever variety you use; the difference is what each is good for. Here is how the common lettuce varieties compare.
| Variety | Best for |
|---|---|
| Iceberg | Tacos, burgers and shredded toppings: a dense head that cuts into fine ribbons. |
| Cos (romaine) | Caesar salad: long, firm leaves that are easy to tear into forkfuls. |
| Butter lettuce | Light green salads: tender leaves that bruise easily, so dress them right before serving. |
| Oak leaf and other loose-leaf lettuces | Mixed salads and sandwiches: soft leaves with a mild taste that sit flat in a bun. |
| Baby cos | Side salads: small heads that can be cut in half lengthways and served without chopping. |
Which should I pick?
Iceberg is the pick for tacos, burgers and anything that needs crunch, as it holds up under hot fillings. Cos (romaine) is the pick for a Caesar salad, where its firm leaves stay crisp under a thick dressing. Butter lettuce and the loose-leaf types are softer, so use them in a simple green salad. Baby cos is the same lettuce picked smaller, so it works in a side salad.
In my kitchen
For me lettuce is used in salads and sides but also as extras for homemade burgers and tacos.
Notes from Ian, Cooking Converter
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the size of a medium head of lettuce?
- A medium head of lettuce weighs about 540 g, which works out to roughly 7.2 cups (7.5 US cups) of chopped flesh. Heads of lettuce come in a range of sizes depending on the season, variety and where they were grown, so weight and cup figures shift accordingly. Use the size selector above to match what you actually have, then read the exact conversion for any amount.
- How much does a medium head of lettuce weigh?
- A medium head of lettuce weighs about 540 g, with a small one around 400 g and a large one near 755 g. That range changes the weight of any recipe that counts heads of lettuce by the piece, so set the size selector to match what you actually have before trusting a cup or gram figure.
- How much does an average head of lettuce weigh?
- An average head of lettuce is the same as a medium one: about 540 g. A small head of lettuce is lighter at around 400 g and a large one heavier at about 755 g, so the size you actually have changes the total for any recipe that counts heads of lettuce by the piece rather than by weight.
- How much does a large head of lettuce weigh?
- A large head of lettuce weighs about 755 g, noticeably more than a medium, or average, one at 540 g or a small one at 400 g. Set the size selector to large to convert cups, grams and ounces for the bigger heads of lettuce you actually have on the counter.
- Which lettuce variety should I use?
- Iceberg is the pick for tacos, burgers and anything that needs crunch, as it holds up under hot fillings. Cos (romaine) is the pick for a Caesar salad, where its firm leaves stay crisp under a thick dressing. Butter lettuce and the loose-leaf types are softer, so use them in a simple green salad. Baby cos is the same lettuce picked smaller, so it works in a side salad.
- How do I convert grams to ounces for any ingredient?
- Converting grams to ounces is pure weight maths that applies to any food, not just heads of lettuce, so 200 grams is always 7.05 ounces. For other amounts, the weight converter at the link below handles grams, ounces, pounds, kilograms and stone in both directions. Grams to ounces converter
Related to Lettuce
Shredded Lettuce
Using a bag of ready-shredded lettuce instead of a whole head? A 200 g bag is about 2.7 cups. The shredded lettuce converter shows other bag sizes. See our Shredded Lettuce converter.
See all available fresh produce and cooking ingredients.