5lbs of flour is how many cups

While most experts suggest measuring dry ingredients by weight for improved precision,[1] not all recipes call for ingredients by weight and when they do we might not all have a scale handy. Because flours vary in density, it might not be immediately clear how to convert between a weight and volume measurement.

The table below can help with the conversion, and shows the approximate volume measurement for various weights of flour, by type.

Flour Weight to Volume Conversion Table

Should I Measure Flour by Weight or Volume?

Most experts agree that dry ingredients like flour should be measured by weight rather than volume, especially in baking. The reason for this is that flours vary slightly in density, so a volume measurement will likely yield an incorrect amount of ingredient. Additionally, the amount that the flour is packed or compressed in the cup or tablespoon will alter the amount of ingredient being added.

For these reasons, a food scale is the preferred way to measure flour when cooking, rather than a cup or tablespoon.

Pounds and cups are both units used to measure flour. Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.

Pounds

A pound is a commonly used unit to measure flour weight. A pound of flour is equal to 16 ounces, and there are 0.453592 kilograms in one pound.

The pound is a US customary and imperial unit of flour. Pounds can be abbreviated as lb; for example, 1 pound can be written as 1 lb.

Cups

The cup is a commonly used unit to measure flour volume. One cup of flour is equal to 16 tablespoons.

The cup is a US customary unit of flour. Cups can be abbreviated as c, and are also sometimes abbreviated as C. For example, 1 cup can be written as 1 c or 1 C.

Note: Values are rounded to 3 significant figures. Fractions are rounded to the nearest 8th fraction.

FAQs on flour weight to volume conversion

5 pounds of flour equals how many cups?

5 pounds of flour is equivalent 18 ( ~ 18 1/8) cups.

How much is 18 cups of flour in pounds?

18 cups of flour equals 5 pounds.

Weight to Volume Conversions - Recipes

(*) A note on cooking ingredients measurentsIt is difficult to get an exact conversion of cooking ingredients as the density of these substances can vary so much depending on temperature, humidity, how well packaged the ingredient is, etc. These words add even more uncertainty: sliced, chopped, diced, crushed, minced, etc. Therefore, it is better to measure dry ingredients by weight rather than volume as this can be more accurate.

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A five-pound bag of all-purpose flour can contain anywhere from 15 to 20 cups of flour. This estimate will vary slightly depending on the type of flour, the brand name and whether or not the flour is sifted when retrieved from the bag.

Thicker and heavier flour types, such as whole wheat or rice flour, are going to contain slightly fewer cups of flour per five-pound bag as compared to lighter flours, like white all-purpose flour. Also, sifting the flour can cause the flour to contain more air volume, increasing the number of cups you can retrieve from a five-pound bag. Since flour can easily be packed down to push out air volume, packing down each cup of flour can greatly decrease the number of cups you retrieve from a five-pound bag.

When you buy a five-pound bag of flour, you might envision the dozens and dozens of cookies you’ll be able to make or the numerous loaves of bread or cakes you’ll bake. Although flour is sold by weight, many recipes list measurements of flour in cups. How many cups does that five-pound bag contain?

It all depends. The type of flour and how you measure it affect the volume of flour in a five-pound bag. Cook’s Illustrated believes that there are about 5 ounces of all-purpose flour in one cup, meaning there would be about 16 cups in one five-pound bag. According to King Arthur Flour, one cup of all-purpose flour is the same as 4.25 ounces, meaning there are slightly less than 19 cups in one five-pound bag.

How You Scoop Flour Matters

One of the reasons it’s difficult to definitively say how many cups are in a five-pound bag of flour is that there are many variables at play. How you scoop flour into a measuring cup affects how much ends up in the cup and ultimately in your recipe.

For example, if you dip the measuring cup into a bag of flour and scoop it out, you’re likely to end up with a lot of flour in the cup. Scooping the flour compacts it into the measuring cup, meaning you’re going to end up with more flour than if you used another method.

Usually, the recommended method for measuring flour is to spoon it into the measuring cup, then level off the surface with the back of a knife. According to Cook’s Illustrated, there can be up to a 20 percent difference in the amount of flour in a cup based on the method you use to measure.

Sifted vs. Unsifted Flour

Another factor that influences how many cups are in a bag of flour is whether you end up sifting the flour before using it in a recipe. Sifting flour before adding it to a recipe helps to break up any clumps in it and makes the flour lighter as sifting adds in air. Sifted flour often weighs less but has a greater volume than unsifted flour. 

One thing worth noting if you are going to sift flour. Look closely at the ingredients list. If a recipe wants “1 cup sifted flour,” sift the flour before you measure it. For recipes that call for “1 cup flour, sifted,” measure the flour, then sift it.

Types of Flour 

Different types of flour have different weights and volumes. For example, one cup of whole wheat flour weighs less than one cup of all-purpose flour, according to King Arthur Flour. One cup of whole wheat flour typically weighs four ounces, compared to 4.25 ounces for one cup of all-purpose flour.

Measuring Flour by Weight vs. Volume

When you cook, you can add a dash of seasoning here and a splash of oil there without much thought. When you’re baking, it’s critical that you use precise measurements. Otherwise, the final product might not be quite what you were expecting.

Since measuring by weight is usually more accurate than measuring by volume, many bakers prefer to weigh out their ingredients rather than using measuring cups.

How to Improve Measurement Accuracy

If you don’t own a kitchen scale and aren’t interested in buying one, you can still bake to your heart’s content. It’s just a matter of learning to measure flour to increase accuracy and to produce consistent results. Make sure you’re using a measuring cup made for dry ingredients. Your best bet is to spoon flour into the cup, rather than try to scoop flour out of the package directly.

As you spoon flour into the measuring cup, try not to shake the cup or slam it down on a counter. You want to avoid compressing the flour. Otherwise, you can end up with too much.

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