The Complete Guide to Cooking Measurement Conversions
Whether you're following a recipe from another country or scaling up your grandmother's famous dish, accurate measurements are key to cooking success. This guide covers all the essential kitchen conversions you'll ever need!
Basic Volume Conversions
The Essential Relationships:
3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce
4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup
16 tablespoons = 1 cup
2 cups = 1 pint
4 cups = 1 quart
4 quarts = 1 gallon
3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce
4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup
16 tablespoons = 1 cup
2 cups = 1 pint
4 cups = 1 quart
4 quarts = 1 gallon
Cups, Tablespoons, and Teaspoons
| Cups | Tablespoons | Teaspoons | mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 16 tbsp | 48 tsp | 237 mL |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tbsp | 36 tsp | 177 mL |
| 2/3 cup | 10⅔ tbsp | 32 tsp | 158 mL |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tbsp | 24 tsp | 118 mL |
| 1/3 cup | 5⅓ tbsp | 16 tsp | 79 mL |
| 1/4 cup | 4 tbsp | 12 tsp | 59 mL |
| 1/8 cup | 2 tbsp | 6 tsp | 30 mL |
US vs Metric
| US Measure | Metric |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 5 mL |
| 1 tablespoon | 15 mL |
| 1 fluid ounce | 30 mL |
| 1 cup | 237 mL (often rounded to 240 mL) |
| 1 pint | 473 mL |
| 1 quart | 946 mL |
| 1 gallon | 3.79 L |
Pro Tip: For baking, precision matters more than cooking. When in doubt, use weight measurements (grams/ounces) for dry ingredients.
Common Ingredient Weights
Since different ingredients have different densities, 1 cup of flour doesn't weigh the same as 1 cup of sugar:
| Ingredient | 1 Cup (US) | Grams |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 1 cup | 125g |
| Bread flour | 1 cup | 127g |
| Granulated sugar | 1 cup | 200g |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 1 cup | 220g |
| Powdered sugar | 1 cup | 120g |
| Butter | 1 cup (2 sticks) | 227g |
| Honey | 1 cup | 340g |
| Milk | 1 cup | 245g |
| Rice (uncooked) | 1 cup | 185g |
| Oats | 1 cup | 90g |
Butter Measurements
1 stick butter = 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons = 113g = 4 oz
| Butter | Cups | Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 stick | 1/2 | 8 | 113g |
| 1/2 stick | 1/4 | 4 | 57g |
| 1/4 stick | 1/8 | 2 | 28g |
Oven Temperature Conversions
| Description | Fahrenheit | Celsius | Gas Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very Low | 250°F | 120°C | 1/2 |
| Low | 300°F | 150°C | 2 |
| Moderate | 350°F | 175°C | 4 |
| Moderately Hot | 375°F | 190°C | 5 |
| Hot | 400°F | 200°C | 6 |
| Very Hot | 450°F | 230°C | 8 |
Substitution Conversions
- 1 cup butter: 7/8 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup whole milk: 1 cup buttermilk + 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup brown sugar: 1 cup white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses
- 1 tbsp fresh herbs: 1 tsp dried herbs
- 1 clove garlic: 1/8 tsp garlic powder
Need Quick Cooking Conversions?
Use our free Cooking Converter for instant results!
Tips for Accurate Measuring
- Flour: Spoon into the cup and level with a knife (don't scoop)
- Brown sugar: Pack firmly into the measuring cup
- Liquids: Use a liquid measuring cup at eye level
- Butter: Use the wrapper markings for accuracy
- For best results: Invest in a kitchen scale!
