120 Grams of Black Beans in Cups
120 grams of black beans doesn't land on a clean fraction, so the result below is calculated exactly rather than rounded to a common measure. Based on a density of 172g per cup, it equals 0.70 cups.
- Cups (US Customary)
- 0.70 (⅔)
- Tablespoons
- 11.2
- Teaspoons
- 33.5
- Milliliters
- 165 ml
120 grams of black beans = 0.70 cups (⅔ cup / 11.2 tbsp / 33.5 tsp)
Black Beans has a density of approximately 172g per cup. Canned and drained. Rinsing versus straight-draining can shift this by 5-10g. Source: USDA FoodData Central. This is the figure used everywhere on this page, including the tablespoon and teaspoon values, so the numbers stay consistent whether you're reading the summary line, the table, or the FAQ answers below.
| Grams | Cups | Fraction | Tablespoons | Teaspoons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100g | 0.58 | ⅝ | 9.3 | 27.9 |
| 110g | 0.64 | ⅝ | 10.2 | 30.7 |
| 120g | 0.70 | ⅔ | 11.2 | 33.5 |
| 125g | 0.73 | ¾ | 11.6 | 34.9 |
| 130g | 0.76 | ¾ | 12.1 | 36.3 |
How 120g Converts, Step by Step
120g divided by 172g (the weight of one cup of black beans) equals 0.70 cups. Multiplying that by 16 gives 11.2 tablespoons, and by 48 gives 33.5 teaspoons, since one cup always equals 16 tablespoons or 48 teaspoons regardless of the ingredient.
Black Beans is lighter than water, which weighs about 236g per cup. That's why 120g of black beans takes up more volume (165ml) than the same weight of water would (120ml). For a side-by-side look at how other ingredients compare, see the 120 grams to cups page.
If You're Using a Metric or Imperial Cup
The 0.70 cup figure above uses the US Customary cup (236.588ml). Recipes written outside the US sometimes use a metric cup (250ml) or an imperial (uk) cup (284.131ml) instead. At 120g, that's ⅔ metric cups or ⅝ imperial cups of black beans, close to the US figure but not identical. The cup standard switch in the converter above recalculates this instantly for any gram amount.
Scaling This 120g Amount
Doubling a recipe that calls for 120g of black beans means weighing 240g, or measuring 1.40 cups if you're working by volume instead of weight. Halving it means 60g, or 0.35 cups. Weight scales exactly with simple multiplication; cup measurements compound any scooping error each time they're doubled or halved, so weighing is more reliable the more a recipe is scaled.
Black Beans Next to Other Beans & Legumes
Within beans & legumes, density still varies by ingredient. At 120g, chickpeas (152g per cup) measures ¾ cup, compared to ⅔ cup for black beans. Swapping ingredients in a recipe by cup measurement alone, without adjusting for this difference, changes the actual weight used.
Using Black Beans in Recipes
- Recipes typically call for this ingredient in amounts ranging from a tablespoon to a full cup, depending on the dish.
- Check your specific recipe for the exact gram amount, then use the converter above to find the matching cup measurement.
Measuring This Precisely
Beans & Legumes
Pour into the cup loosely and level the top. Dried beans and lentils don't compress the way flour does.
For exact results
Dried beans roughly double or triple in volume once soaked and cooked, so a recipe calling for a cup of cooked beans needs considerably less than a cup of the dried form.
For every gram amount at once, the black beans conversion chart lists black beans across the full range from 1g to 1000g in one table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 120 grams of black beans in cups exactly?+
120 grams of black beans equals 0.70 cups, based on a density of 172g per cup.
Why doesn't 120g of black beans match a simple fraction?+
120g isn't a multiple of black beans's per-cup weight, so the cup value lands between common fractions. The closest practical measure is ⅔ cup.
What's the most reliable way to measure 120g of black beans?+
A kitchen scale set to grams gives an exact 120g reading. Cups only approximate this amount, since ⅔ cup rounds to the nearest practical fraction.
Is 120g likely a typo for a rounder amount?+
Possibly, if a recipe seems to expect a cleaner number. Check the nearby amounts table below for the closest common gram values for black beans.