Cooking Measurement Conversion - Convert Cups, Tablespoons, mL, Grams, Ounces, and More
Cooking Measurements Converter
Convert cooking measurements measurements between different units quickly and accurately
Convert Cooking Measurements
Popular Cooking Conversions
Quickly convert between the most commonly used cooking units.
Understanding Cooking Measurements
Cooking conversions are essential for accurate recipe preparation, ensuring consistent results across different measurement systems. This tool supports US customary, UK imperial, and metric units, and only allows conversions within the same measurement type (volume ↔ volume, weight ↔ weight).
Common Cooking Units
Volume Units
- US Teaspoon (tsp)
- US Tablespoon (tbsp)
- US Fluid Ounce (fl oz)
- US Stick of Butter (stick)
- US Cup (c)
- US Pint (pt)
- US Quart (qt)
- US Gallon (gal)
- UK Teaspoon (tsp)
- UK Tablespoon (tbsp)
- UK Fluid Ounce (fl oz)
- UK Cup (c)
- UK Pint (pt)
- UK Quart (qt)
- UK Gallon (gal)
- Milliliter (ml)
- Liter (l)
Weight Units
- Milligram (mg)
- Gram (g)
- Kilogram (kg)
- Ounce (oz)
- Pound (lb)
Common Applications
| Field | Measurement Types | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Home Cooking | Volume, Weight | Recipe preparation, ingredient scaling |
| Professional Cooking | Volume, Weight | Menu planning, batch cooking |
| Baking | Volume, Weight | Precise ingredient measurement |
| International Recipes | Volume, Weight | Converting between metric and imperial |
Conversion Tips
- Use measuring cups and spoons for volume measurements.
- Use a kitchen scale for weight measurements.
- Remember that 1 US cup = 16 US tablespoons = 48 US teaspoons.
- For liquids, 1 US cup = 8 US fluid ounces.
- 1 UK teaspoon ≈ 5.92 ml (larger than a US teaspoon).
- Volume units can only convert to other volume units.
- Weight units can only convert to other weight units.
- Ingredient density varies—always weigh for precision where possible.
- US and UK measurements differ significantly; double-check the system.
Cooking Conversions
| Conversion | Formula/Rule | Quick Answer |
|---|---|---|
| US Teaspoons to US Tablespoons | 1 US tbsp = 3 US tsp | Divide tsp by 3 |
| US Tablespoons to US Cups | 1 US cup = 16 US tbsp | Divide tbsp by 16 |
| US Cups to US Fluid Ounces | 1 US cup = 8 US fl oz | Multiply cups by 8 |
| US Fluid Ounces to Milliliters | 1 US fl oz = 29.574 ml | Multiply fl oz by 29.574 |
| US Cups to Milliliters | 1 US cup = 236.588 ml | Multiply cups by 236.588 |
| Milliliters to US Cups | 1 ml = 0.004227 US cups | Divide ml by 236.588 |
| UK Teaspoons to UK Tablespoons | 1 UK tbsp = 3 UK tsp | Divide tsp by 3 |
| UK Tablespoons to UK Cups | 1 UK cup = 16 UK tbsp | Divide tbsp by 16 |
| UK Cups to UK Fluid Ounces | 1 UK cup = 10 UK fl oz | Multiply cups by 10 |
| UK Fluid Ounces to Milliliters | 1 UK fl oz = 28.413 ml | Multiply fl oz by 28.413 |
| UK Cups to Milliliters | 1 UK cup = 284.131 ml | Multiply cups by 284.131 |
| Milliliters to UK Cups | 1 ml = 0.00352 UK cups | Divide ml by 284.131 |
| Ounces to Grams (Weight) | 1 oz = 28.35 g | Multiply oz by 28.35 |
| Grams to Ounces (Weight) | 1 g = 0.035274 oz | Multiply g by 0.035274 |
| Pounds to Kilograms | 1 lb = 0.453592 kg | Multiply lb by 0.453592 |
| Kilograms to Pounds | 1 kg = 2.20462 lb | Multiply kg by 2.20462 |
| Milligrams to Grams | 1 mg = 0.001 g | Divide mg by 1000 |
| Grams to Milligrams | 1 g = 1000 mg | Multiply g by 1000 |
Our cooking conversion tool provides accurate conversions between all major cooking units, handling both volume and weight measurements separately. Whether you're a home cook or a professional chef, it ensures precise measurements for any culinary application.
Cooking Conversion Questions
Everything you need to know about cooking measurements and conversions
How do international recipe measurements differ?
US recipes use US cups, tablespoons, and fluid ounces. European and Australian recipes typically use grams and milliliters. UK recipes often rely on imperial units (UK teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, pints). Key conversions: 1 US cup = 236.588 ml, 1 US tbsp = 14.787 ml, 1 US tsp = 4.929 ml; 1 UK cup = 284 ml, 1 UK tbsp = 17.758 ml, 1 UK tsp = 5.919 ml. Always verify which measurement system a recipe uses.
Why is weighing ingredients more accurate than measuring by volume?
Volume measurements can vary significantly based on how ingredients are packed, their moisture content, and grain size. For example, a cup of flour can weigh anywhere from 120-150 g depending on how it's measured. Professional bakers weigh ingredients for consistency and better results.
Why can't I convert between volume and weight units?
Volume and weight measure different physical properties and cannot be directly converted without knowing the ingredient's density. For example, 1 cup of flour weighs about 120 g, but 1 cup of sugar weighs about 200 g, and 1 cup of water weighs about 240 g. Each ingredient has a different density, so the conversion varies. This tool separates volume and weight conversions to maintain accuracy.
How much is a 'stick of butter' in different measurements?
In the US, one stick of butter equals 1/2 cup (118.294 ml), 8 tablespoons, 4 ounces, or about 113 grams. This is a uniquely American measurement—European recipes typically specify butter by weight (grams) or by tablespoons/milliliters when melted.
What's the difference between dry and liquid measuring cups?
Dry measuring cups are designed to be filled to the brim and leveled off, while liquid measuring cups have spouts and measurement lines below the rim. Using the wrong type can lead to measurement errors—dry ingredients in liquid cups may be under-measured by 20-30 %.
How do I convert between metric and imperial baking measurements?
Common baking conversions: 236.588 ml = 1 US cup, 250 ml = 1 metric cup, 200 g = 1 US cup sugar, 225 g = 1 US cup butter. For temperatures: multiply °C by 1.8 and add 32 to get °F. Note that UK imperial measurements differ from US customary measurements. Many bakers keep conversion charts handy for international recipes.
Why do some recipes call for 'packed' vs 'unpacked' measurements?
This mainly applies to brown sugar and fresh herbs. 'Packed' means pressing the ingredient firmly into the measuring cup, which can increase the amount by 25-50 %. Flour should never be packed—it should be spooned lightly into the cup and leveled.
How do altitude and humidity affect cooking measurements?
At high altitudes (over 3 000 ft), reduce baking powder by 1/8, increase liquids by 2-4 tbsp, and increase oven temperature by 15-25 °F. Humidity affects flour—it absorbs moisture and becomes heavier, so you might need slightly less flour on very humid days.
What's the difference between US and UK cooking measurements?
US measurements: 1 cup = 236.588 ml, 1 tbsp = 14.787 ml, 1 tsp = 4.929 ml, 1 fl oz = 29.574 ml. UK measurements: 1 cup = 284 ml, 1 tbsp = 17.758 ml, 1 tsp = 5.919 ml, 1 fl oz = 28.413 ml. UK units are generally larger; always confirm which system the recipe uses.
What are the most common cooking measurement mistakes?
Typical errors include confusing tablespoons with teaspoons (3:1 ratio), using liquid cups for dry ingredients, not leveling flour, packing flour into cups, and assuming all 'cups' are the same size internationally. A US cup (236.588 ml) differs from a UK cup (284 ml) and a metric cup (250 ml). When in doubt, weigh ingredients or look up metric conversions.
Have more questions? Contact us!