Bread Flour vs Whole wheat flour

A side-by-side guide to substituting Whole wheat flour for Bread Flour (or vice versa).

Quick answer

Use 0.9 cup of Whole wheat flour for every 1 cup of Bread Flour.

Side-by-side

Bread Flour

Base unit: cup

Read the full guide: Bread Flour

Whole wheat flour

Conversion: Use 90% as much (0.9 cup per 1 cup)

Tags: commonvegandairy-freegluten-free

Notes: Denser, nuttier flavor; absorbs more liquid so reduce hydration slightly. Best for artisan or rustic breads where chewiness is desired.

Read the full guide: Whole wheat flour

Calculate the exact swap for your recipe in seconds.

Open calculator →

When to use Whole wheat flour instead of Bread Flour

Denser, nuttier flavor; absorbs more liquid so reduce hydration slightly. Best for artisan or rustic breads where chewiness is desired. The conversion is use 90% as much (0.9 cup per 1 cup).

Common questions

Can I substitute Whole wheat flour for Bread Flour?

Yes — Denser, nuttier flavor; absorbs more liquid so reduce hydration slightly. Best for artisan or rustic breads where chewiness is desired. Ratio: Use 90% as much (0.9 cup per 1 cup).

What's the conversion ratio for Bread Flour to Whole wheat flour?

Use 90% as much (0.9 cup per 1 cup). For other quantities, use the SubSwap calculator.

Are Bread Flour and Whole wheat flour interchangeable?

They are similar in most uses, but Denser, nuttier flavor; absorbs more liquid so reduce hydration slightly..

Is Whole wheat flour a better substitute than other options for Bread Flour?

Whole wheat flour is one of the options SubSwap lists for Bread Flour. The 'best' choice depends on your recipe — see the full list of Bread Flour substitutes.

Looking for more Bread Flour substitutes beyond Whole wheat flour?

See all Bread Flour swaps →