1 Cup Mayonnaise in Grams

1 cup of mayonnaise weighs 220 g (spooned and levelled, USDA). Emulsified oil, egg and vinegar spread. All the figures on this page are approximate conversions based on the USDA value, so when a recipe really matters, verify with a kitchen scale.

Why weighing mayonnaise beats measuring it in cups

Mayonnaise weighs 220 g per cup, and the figure is a reminder that a cup of a thick emulsion is not the same as a cup of a liquid. Mayonnaise is mostly oil held in an emulsion with egg and vinegar, so it is dense, clings to the cup, and traps air when it is spooned in roughly. A cup of mayonnaise poured from the jar can be 20 g short of a cup spooned in carefully, because the mayonnaise leaves a film on the cup and air pockets form in the middle. The scale removes that problem entirely: weigh the jar before and after, or spoon the mayonnaise onto the scale, and the number is exact.

The second reason the weight matters is that mayonnaise is almost entirely fat, and a small error in the amount is a large error in calories and in the balance of a dressing. A coleslaw dressing made with a cup of mayonnaise is rich and creamy; the same dressing made with a cup and a half is heavy and greasy. Light mayonnaise is a different product again: it contains more water and less oil, so it weighs slightly more per cup and tastes less rich, and the two are not interchangeable by volume without adjusting the seasoning. The USDA figure of 220 g is medium confidence, because brands vary in oil content and thickness.

Mayonnaise cups to grams conversion table

Cups Grams Tablespoons
1/4 cup 55 g 4
1/3 cup 73.3 g 5.3
1/2 cup 110 g 8
2/3 cup 146.7 g 10.7
3/4 cup 165 g 12
1 cup 220 g 16
1 1/2 cups 330 g 24
2 cups 440 g 32
3 cups 660 g 48
4 cups 880 g 64

One tablespoon of mayonnaise weighs about 13.8 g, since a cup is 16 tablespoons. That is useful when a recipe calls for a spoonful or two rather than a whole cup, though for small amounts a scale that reads to the gram is far more reliable than a spoon, because a heaped tablespoon can weigh half as much again as a level one.

Worked examples

Coleslaw for a barbecue, serves eight

Coleslaw for eight people uses about 1 cup of mayonnaise, which is 220 g, mixed with vinegar, sugar and mustard to make the dressing. Weigh 220 g rather than pouring from the jar, because mayonnaise clings to the cup and a poured measure is unreliable. Toss the dressing with shredded cabbage and carrot, and chill for at least 30 minutes so the flavours meld.

Sandwich spread for a week of lunches

A week of sandwiches uses about 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, which is 110 g, spread thinly on bread. Weighing 110 g helps you see how much you are actually using: a thick spread on every sandwich adds up quickly, and a thin spread is usually enough. Keep the jar refrigerated and use a clean knife so the mayonnaise stays fresh.

Mayonnaise-based dip for a party

A dip for a party uses about 3/4 cup of mayonnaise, which is 165 g, mixed with sour cream, herbs and garlic. Weigh 165 g and stir in the other ingredients, then chill the dip for an hour so the flavours develop. The mayonnaise is the base of the dip, so the amount decides whether it is thick and scoopable or thin and runny.

How the weight was measured

How you fill the cup decides what the cup weighs. The method used here is spooned and levelled: the ingredient is spooned into the cup and levelled with a straight edge, never scooped and never tapped down. If you scoop, you compress the ingredient and the same cup can weigh noticeably more, which is the single most common reason a recipe that worked for its author fails in another kitchen.

The value is taken from USDA with medium confidence. USDA is the reference used across this site because its chart is consistent and widely used by recipe developers. No other source was mixed in, and nothing on this page was estimated from a different ingredient. Remember that every conversion on this page is approximate: check the weight on a kitchen scale whenever accuracy matters, and use the table as a guide rather than a guarantee.

Practical guidance

Refrigerate mayonnaise after opening and use it within 2 months, because it is an emulsion that spoils once opened. Use a clean spoon or knife every time, and do not leave the jar out on the counter for hours, especially in warm weather. When a recipe calls for mayonnaise by the cup, weigh it rather than measuring it, because it clings to the cup and traps air. If you do not have a scale, spoon the mayonnaise into the cup firmly to remove air pockets and level the top, remembering that the 220 g figure is approximate and medium confidence. Light mayonnaise weighs slightly more per cup and tastes less rich, so adjust the seasoning if you swap it in.

Common mistakes with condiments and sauces

The most common mistake is measuring thick sauces by the cup as if they poured like water. Tomato paste, mayonnaise and jam cling to the cup, trap air, and leave a film behind, so the amount that reaches the pan is less than the amount measured. A scale removes the problem entirely: weigh the jar before and after, or spoon the sauce onto the scale. The second mistake is eyeballing a tablespoon of paste or jam from the jar and calling it a cup's worth of accuracy; small errors in concentrated ingredients are large errors in flavour. The third is storing opened sauces at room temperature for weeks: most need the fridge once opened, and a sauce that has turned will spoil a whole dish. Finally, do not swap one sauce for another by volume alone: a cup of tomato paste and a cup of tomato sauce differ in concentration, salt and water, so the swap changes the recipe, not just the weight.

Frequently asked questions

How many grams is 1 cup of mayonnaise?

1 cup of mayonnaise weighs 220 g when spooned and levelled, according to the USDA. The figure is medium confidence and approximate, because brands vary in oil content and thickness, so verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.

Why is mayonnaise hard to measure by the cup?

Because it is thick, clings to the cup, and traps air when spooned in roughly. A cup of mayonnaise can be 20 g short of the true weight, so weighing it on a scale is far more reliable than measuring by volume.

How many cups is 100 g of mayonnaise?

100 g of mayonnaise is about 0.45 cups, or just under 1/2 cup. At 220 g per cup, divide 100 by 220 to get the answer, and use a scale for the most accurate result.

Is light mayonnaise the same weight per cup?

Not exactly. Light mayonnaise contains more water and less oil, so it weighs slightly more per cup and tastes less rich. The difference is small, but the flavour and the calories differ, so adjust the seasoning if you swap it in.

Can I use mayonnaise instead of butter in baking?

In some cakes, yes: mayonnaise is mostly oil and egg, so it can replace butter in a chocolate cake for a moist crumb. Use the same weight rather than the same volume, because butter and mayonnaise have different densities, and expect a slightly different flavour.

Related conversions

If you need a different amount, the table above scales in both directions, and the converter tool will do the maths for any quantity. When a recipe really matters, weigh the ingredient on a kitchen scale rather than trusting the cup alone, because the figures on this page are approximate and natural ingredients vary by brand, variety and moisture.