How many grams of pasta are in a cup?

It depends on the shape. Long strands like spaghetti are around 100 grams per cup, dense small shapes like orzo run closer to 185 grams per cup, and lighter shapes like farfalle are closer to 75 grams per cup. Select your shape in the tool for an accurate figure.

Why does pasta shape affect the grams-to-cups conversion?

A cup measures volume, not weight. Long strands leave more air gaps than small, dense shapes like orzo or elbow macaroni, so the same cup holds a different weight of dry pasta depending on shape.

Is this the weight of cooked or dry pasta?

This converter is for dry (uncooked) pasta. Cooked pasta roughly doubles to triples in weight and volume after boiling, so dry-to-cup figures do not apply once it is cooked.

How much dry pasta is a standard serving?

A common serving size is about 2 ounces (56 grams) of dry pasta per person, which is roughly 1/2 cup for shapes like penne or macaroni.

Are these density values exact for every brand?

They are standard, commonly cited averages. Actual weight can vary a few grams per cup between brands depending on shape thickness and how tightly the pasta settles in the cup.

Pasta Grams to Cups Converter

Enter a weight in grams or a volume in cups, pick your pasta shape, and get the equivalent instantly in both directions.

Pasta Converter

Pasta shape

Grams (dry)

Cups

Result

Enter grams or cups on the left.

Equivalent

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Unit	Value

Quick Reference — Dry Pasta Density by Shape

Shape	Grams / cup	Cups / 100g

Summary

Enter a weight in grams or a volume in cups, pick your pasta shape, and get the equivalent instantly in both directions.

How it works

Select the pasta shape you are measuring from the dropdown.
Type an amount in the Grams field, or type an amount in the Cups field.
The other field updates automatically using that shape's density.
Switch shapes at any time and the conversion recalculates from your last entry.
Use the reference table to compare density across all supported shapes.

Use cases

Convert a recipe listing pasta in grams to cup measurements for a US kitchen.
Convert a recipe listing pasta in cups to grams for a kitchen scale.
Check whether a box serving size matches your recipe's cup measurement.
Compare how much a cup of spaghetti weighs versus a cup of macaroni.
Scale a pasta recipe up or down without a scale, using cup measures.
Plan grocery quantities by weight when a recipe only lists cups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-25 · Reviewed by Nham Vu