Chia Seeds: Complete Cup to Gram Conversion

1 cup of chia seeds weighs 160g (spooned, USDA standard) or varies by measuring technique. See the full 16-interval conversion table for all amounts below.

1/4 cup
40g
1/2 cup
80g
1 cup
160g

Chia Seeds Conversion Table

1 cup chia seeds = 160g (USDA FoodData Central basis. 1 cup = 240ml)

AmountGrams (g)Ounces (oz)Milliliters (ml)
1/8 cup20g0.71 oz30 ml
1/4 cup40g1.41 oz60 ml
1/3 cup53.33g1.88 oz80 ml
1/2 cup80g2.82 oz120 ml
2/3 cup106.67g3.76 oz160 ml
3/4 cup120g4.23 oz180 ml
1 cup1 cup160g5.64 oz240 ml
1 1/4 cups200g7.05 oz300 ml
1 1/2 cups240g8.47 oz360 ml
1 2/3 cups266.67g9.41 oz400 ml
2 cups320g11.29 oz480 ml
2 1/2 cups400g14.11 oz600 ml
3 cups480g16.93 oz720 ml
3 1/2 cups560g19.75 oz840 ml
4 cups640g22.58 oz960 ml

Source: USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy. Values shown for spooned (not packed) measurement unless specified.

Chia Seeds vs Other Seeds Types

Different types of seeds vary in weight per cup due to different densities.

Seeds Type1 Cup (g)Density (g/ml)
Chia Seedscurrent160g0.667
Sunflower Seeds (shelled)128g0.533
Pumpkin Seeds (pepitas)129g0.538
Sesame Seeds144g0.6
Flaxseed (whole)149g0.621
Hemp Seeds (hulled)160g0.667

Why Does 1 Cup of Chia Seeds Vary?

The weight of 1 cup depends on how you measure. USDA standard (spooned) = 160g.

🥄

Spooned & Leveled

Spoon the ingredient into the measuring cup, then level off with a straight edge. This is the standard method used by USDA FoodData Central.

Reference weight
☁️

Sifted

Sift the ingredient first, then spoon into the cup. Sifting aerates the ingredient, reducing weight by 10-20%.

~10-20% lighter
📦

Scooped (packed)

Dip the cup directly into the bag and pack. This is the most inaccurate method — can be 20-30% heavier than spooned.

~20-30% heavier

About Chia Seeds Density

Chia seeds: 1 cup = 160g. Very small and dense — pack tightly. Absorb up to 12x their weight in water forming a gel. 1 tablespoon chia + 3 tablespoons water = 1 egg substitute. Black and white chia seeds are nutritionally identical. USDA FDC 170554.

⚖️

Pro tip: For consistent baking results, use a kitchen scale. Weight measurements eliminate the variability of cup measurement entirely. USDA values shown are based on the spooned & leveled method.

Chia Seeds: Grams to Cups Conversion

Convert chia seeds from grams back to cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons.

GramsCupsTablespoonsTeaspoons
25g0.16 cups2.5 tbsp7.5 tsp
50g0.31 cups5 tbsp15 tsp
100g0.63 cups10 tbsp30 tsp
150g0.94 cups15 tbsp45 tsp
200g1.25 cups20 tbsp60 tsp
250g1.56 cups25 tbsp75 tsp
300g1.88 cups30 tbsp90 tsp
400g2.5 cups40 tbsp120 tsp
500g3.13 cups50 tbsp150 tsp

Based on 1 cup chia seeds = 160g (USDA standard, spooned & leveled). 16 tablespoons = 1 cup. 48 teaspoons = 1 cup.

Related Ingredients

Data source: USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy (FDC ID: 170554). View original USDA record

Direct Conversion Pages for Chia Seeds

Each page focuses on one conversion direction with a dedicated table.

Specific Amount Conversions for Chia Seeds

Quick links for common recipe amounts — each page includes a full comparison table.

More Conversion Charts