How many grams is a US cup of onions?

A US cup of onions is about 160 grams of onion. The density of chopped onion is fixed, so the ratio holds at any amount: double the US cups and you double the grams. Use the converter above for any quantity, or the chart below for the most common amounts.

How many US cups of onions is 160 grams?

160 grams of onions is about 1 US cup. The conversion works the same in reverse, so you can switch between US cups and grams without changing the result. This helps when a recipe lists one unit but you would rather measure the other. Use the converter above for any amount.

Convert Onion from US cups (chopped) to Grams

Onion converter

Use the tool below to convert onion from US cups (chopped) to Grams.

Onion size swings from a 70 g small to a 150 g large, more than double. Setting the size below means “1 cup chopped” comes out right whether your onions are small or jumbo.

How many grams is 1 US cup of onion?

One US cup of chopped onion weighs about 160 g. Half a US cup is about 80 g and two US cups about 320 g. The weight is the same at any item size, since it measures chopped flesh, so use the converter above for any cup amount.

Out of onion? See onion substitutes →

Already chopping? The chopped onion converter moves straight between cups, grams, and spoons of prepped onion. See our Chopped Onion converter.

Need a milder, more delicate allium? Shallots (20–60 g) suit dressings and pan sauces. See our Shallot converter.

Spring onions (10–25 g) are tender and herbaceous, great raw or as a garnish. See our Spring Onion converter.

Mincing garlic for the same dish? Garlic cloves (2–7 g) bring pungent bite where onion brings sweet body. See our Garlic converter.

No measuring cups? The tool below gets you close, and a measuring cup set keeps every batch the same.

Enter an amount, pick your units, and set the size for counting whole onions.

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Onion sizeSize applies to whole onions (small / medium / large).

Result

160 g

Common Onion conversions

Quick reference for onion at medium size. Switch the size in the converter above for small or large.

US cups (chopped)	Grams
0.25 cups (US)	40 g
0.5 cups (US)	80 g
0.75 cups (US)	120 g
1 cup (US)	160 g
1.5 cups (US)	240 g
2 cups (US)	320 g
3 cups (US)	480 g

Onion conversion chart

The chart below shows how whole onions (medium size) convert to cups, grams and ounces.

cups (US)	g	onions	cups	oz	lb
0.25 cups (US)	40 g	0.36 onions	0.24 cups	1.41 oz	0.09 lb
0.5 cups (US)	80 g	0.73 onions	0.48 cups	2.82 oz	0.18 lb
1 cup (US)	160 g	1.45 onions	0.96 cups	5.64 oz	0.35 lb
1.5 cups (US)	240 g	2.18 onions	1.44 cups	8.47 oz	0.53 lb
2 cups (US)	320 g	2.91 onions	1.92 cups	11.29 oz	0.71 lb

Onion 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 onion varieties compare.

Variety	Best for
Yellow / brown	All-purpose cooking, soups, caramelising: balanced and sweetens when cooked.
Red	Raw in salads and pickling: mild, colourful; also good roasted.
White	Mexican dishes and salsa: sharp and clean raw.
Sweet (Vidalia / Walla Walla)	Onion rings and raw slices: low pungency, high sugar.
Shallot	Dressings and pan sauces: delicate, subtle flavour.

Which should I pick?

For everyday cooking, soups, and caramelising, a yellow / brown onion is the default, with the most balanced flavour. For raw use in salads, salsa, or pickling, a red or sweet (Vidalia / Walla Walla) onion is milder. White onions suit Mexican dishes; shallots are the delicate choice for dressings and pan sauces.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many grams is a US cup of onions?: A US cup of onions is about 160 grams of onion. The density of chopped onion is fixed, so the ratio holds at any amount: double the US cups and you double the grams. Use the converter above for any quantity, or the chart below for the most common amounts. Open the onion converter
How many US cups of onions is 160 grams?: 160 grams of onions is about 1 US cup. The conversion works the same in reverse, so you can switch between US cups and grams without changing the result. This helps when a recipe lists one unit but you would rather measure the other. Use the converter above for any amount.
Which onion variety should I use?: For everyday cooking, soups, and caramelising, a yellow / brown onion is the default, with the most balanced flavour. For raw use in salads, salsa, or pickling, a red or sweet (Vidalia / Walla Walla) onion is milder. White onions suit Mexican dishes; shallots are the delicate choice for dressings and pan sauces.

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