How many grams are in 1 cup of dry pasta?

It depends on the shape. Small shapes like macaroni or shells run close to 105 grams per cup, mid-size shapes like penne or spaghetti run near 100 grams per cup, and larger tubes or twists like rotini or rigatoni sit lower, around 90 grams per cup, because more air gets trapped between pieces.

Why does pasta shape change how much fits in a cup?

Cup measurements capture volume, not weight, and how tightly pieces pack together depends on their shape. Small, dense shapes like orzo leave few gaps, so more mass fits in the same cup. Long strands and larger twists trap more air, so a cup of them weighs less.

How should I measure spaghetti in a cup?

Break the strands into shorter pieces before measuring, or measure by weight instead, since intact long strands do not settle evenly in a round measuring cup. Many recipes list spaghetti by bundle diameter for this reason, but the cup figure here assumes broken pieces.

Is it better to measure pasta by weight or by cups?

By weight when precision matters. Cup measurements vary with how the pasta settles and how tightly it is packed, while a gram measurement on a scale stays consistent every time, particularly useful for portion control or recipe scaling.

Does this work for both dry and cooked pasta?

This tool converts dry, uncooked pasta only. Cooked pasta absorbs water and roughly doubles or triples in weight depending on shape and cook time, so a dry-pasta density figure would give the wrong result for a cooked portion.

How many grams is 1/3 cup of macaroni?

About 35 grams, based on the roughly 105 grams per cup density this tool uses for elbow macaroni. Switch shapes in the dropdown to see the figure for other pasta types.

Pasta Cups to Grams

Pick a pasta shape, then convert between US cups and grams instantly in either direction, since shape changes how densely dry pasta packs into a cup.

Convert Dry Pasta

Pasta Shape

Amount in Cups

Quick:

Based on 100 g per cup for spaghetti (broken), dry weight. Brands and packing method vary by a few grams.

Result

Enter an amount to see the conversion.

Quick Reference Table

Grams per cup of spaghetti (broken), dry weight.

Amount	Grams

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Summary

Dry pasta does not pack the same way in a measuring cup across shapes. Long strands like spaghetti settle differently than short tubes like penne or rigatoni, and small shapes like orzo or macaroni fill the gaps between pieces more tightly. This tool converts between US cups and grams using a density figure specific to the shape you pick, in either direction, so a recipe written in cups translates to a scale reading without guesswork.

How it works

Choose the pasta shape from the dropdown, since each shape has its own density.
Enter an amount in cups, or switch to Grams to Cups if you already have a gram figure.
The result updates live as you type, no button needed.
Use the quick reference table for common amounts of the selected shape without typing anything.
Copy the result with one click to paste into your notes or recipe.

Use cases

Scale a pasta recipe listed in cups onto a kitchen scale for a more consistent portion.
Convert grams from a European or metric recipe into US cup measurements.
Check how many grams are in 1/2 cup of penne before boiling a single serving.
Compare a spaghetti measurement against a short-shape recipe you are adapting.
Portion out dry pasta for meal prep without dirtying a second measuring cup per shape.
Work out approximate ingredient weight for a nutrition or cost calculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-09 · Reviewed by Nham Vu