Cooking measurement guide

Kitchen Conversions

Choose the right cup and spoon, convert recipe quantities, and scale a batch with confidence. Learn which conversions are exact and which depend on the ingredient you measure.

Clear conventions · Worked examples · Printable reference

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First, identify the measurement convention

A cup name alone is incomplete. Read the recipe's measurement notes and the markings on your equipment before choosing a conversion. The same word can describe different defined volumes. Keep a single convention through a calculation instead of mixing a customary cup with a metric spoon.

US customary cup

236.5882365\,\mathrm{mL}

Use for recipes explicitly using US customary measures.

Use this convention

US nutrition-labeling cup

240\,\mathrm{mL}

A defined volume for US nutrition labeling; not the exact customary cup.

Use this convention

Metric recipe cup

250\,\mathrm{mL}

Use when the recipe specifies this metric cup.

Use this convention

Metric tablespoon

15\,\mathrm{mL}

Use the stated metric spoon convention.

Use this convention

Australian recipe tablespoon

20\,\mathrm{mL}

Used by the cited Australian recipe guide; check your actual spoon and recipe.

Use this convention

The $240\,\mathrm{mL}$ cup is specifically defined for US nutrition labeling. It is not merely an imprecise version of the customary cup in that context. The same labeling rule defines a teaspoon as $5\,\mathrm{mL}$ , a tablespoon as $15\,\mathrm{mL}$ and a fluid ounce as $30\,\mathrm{mL}$ . See the FDA labeling definitions.

The cited Australian recipe chart uses a $250\,\mathrm{mL}$ cup, a $20\,\mathrm{mL}$ tablespoon and a $5\,\mathrm{mL}$ teaspoon. In that convention a tablespoon holds four teaspoons, rather than three. Other recipe publishers may choose differently: use the recipe's stated volumes. Check the publisher's chart (PDF).

Four distinct kitchen measures: US customary cup 236.5882365 milliliters, US nutrition-labeling cup 240 milliliters, metric cup 250 milliliters, and Australian recipe tablespoon 20 milliliters. — Cup and spoon conventions have different defined volumes. Match the recipe's stated convention before converting; the customary cup and nutrition-labeling cup are not interchangeable.

US customary liquid volume conversion table

The first numeric column retains the exact defined factor. The second rounds that same factor to three decimal places for reading; it is not a different unit convention or a claim about the accuracy of a measuring jug. All rows refer to US customary measures, not Imperial or US dry pints and quarts.

Swipe horizontally to see both numeric columns. With a keyboard, focus the table and use the arrow keys.

Volume of one named US customary unit
Unit	Exact milliliters	Rounded milliliters
US teaspoon	$4.92892159375\,\mathrm{mL}$	$\approx 4.929\,\mathrm{mL}$
US tablespoon	$14.78676478125\,\mathrm{mL}$	$\approx 14.787\,\mathrm{mL}$
US fluid ounce	$29.5735295625\,\mathrm{mL}$	$\approx 29.574\,\mathrm{mL}$
US customary cup	$236.5882365\,\mathrm{mL}$	$\approx 236.588\,\mathrm{mL}$
US liquid pint	$473.176473\,\mathrm{mL}$	$\approx 473.176\,\mathrm{mL}$
US liquid quart	$946.352946\,\mathrm{mL}$	$\approx 946.353\,\mathrm{mL}$
US liquid gallon	$3785.411784\,\mathrm{mL}$	$\approx 3785.412\,\mathrm{mL}$

These factors follow from the defined $231\,\mathrm{in}^3$ US liquid gallon and $2.54\,\mathrm{cm}$ inch. Cubing the length conversion gives $1\,\mathrm{gal}_{\mathrm{US}}=3785.411784\,\mathrm{mL}$ . Dividing by sixteen gives the customary cup; dividing a cup by sixteen gives a tablespoon, then dividing by three gives a teaspoon. NIST unit definitions (PDF).

Within the same system, $1\,\mathrm{pt}_{\mathrm{US}}=2\,\mathrm{cup}_{\mathrm{US}}$ , $1\,\mathrm{qt}_{\mathrm{US}}=2\,\mathrm{pt}_{\mathrm{US}}$ , and $1\,\mathrm{gal}_{\mathrm{US}}=4\,\mathrm{qt}_{\mathrm{US}}$ . For other named liquid units, use the Volume Converter.

Example one: convert and halve a cup fraction

A recipe calls for $\frac34$ of a US customary cup of stock. Find the quantity in tablespoons and milliliters, then halve it. The illustration shows how the cup breaks into equal portions.

A cup, divided into equal portions

1\,\mathrm{cup}_{\mathrm{US}}=16\,\mathrm{tbsp}_{\mathrm{US}}

1\,\mathrm{tbsp}_{\mathrm{US}}=3\,\mathrm{tsp}_{\mathrm{US}}

Gold rows show the portion used; the white row is left over. Each outlined cell is a tablespoon, with dashed thirds for teaspoons.

\frac34\,\mathrm{cup}_{\mathrm{US}}=12\,\mathrm{tbsp}_{\mathrm{US}}

12\,\mathrm{tbsp}_{\mathrm{US}}=36\,\mathrm{tsp}_{\mathrm{US}}

The highlighted area is

12/16=3/4

of the whole. Equal areas represent equal volumes; this diagram does not show a physical cup's shape or fill height. Use matching US customary units throughout.

1. Convert to tablespoons
$\frac34\times16=12$
Twelve US tablespoons represent exactly the same defined volume as the original cup fraction.
2. Convert to milliliters
$V=\frac34\times236.5882365$ $V=177.441177375\,\mathrm{mL}$
This is approximately $177.4\,\mathrm{mL}$ when rounded to a tenth of a milliliter. Choose practical rounding for the recipe and available equipment.
3. Halve the quantity
$\frac34\times\frac12=\frac38$ $12\times\frac12=6$
Use three-eighths of a US customary cup, or six US tablespoons. Halve the original quantity once; do not halve it again after conversion.

Convert the stock to milliliters Halve the stock in tablespoons

The Fraction Calculator can check the fraction multiplication independently of the unit conversion.

Example two: change four servings to six

Scale the ingredient quantities by the ratio of target servings to original servings. For four servings changed to six, the factor is $k=6/4=3/2$ . This scales ingredients only; it does not determine pan size, oven temperature or cooking time.

q_{\mathrm{new}}=q_{\mathrm{original}}\frac{s_{\mathrm{target}}}{s_{\mathrm{original}}}

1. Scale the stock
$\frac34\times\frac64=\frac98\ \mathrm{cup}_{\mathrm{US}}$
The new amount is $1\frac18$ customary cups. Keep that fraction exact before changing units.
2. Convert the scaled stock
$V=\frac98\times236.5882365$ $V=266.1617660625\,\mathrm{mL}$
At a tenth of a milliliter, report $266.2\,\mathrm{mL}$ . The converter retains the unrounded value internally even when its displayed significant figures shorten the decimal.

Apply the same factor to the oil

If the original recipe uses two US tablespoons of oil, scale to $2\times6/4=3$ US tablespoons. That is $44.36029434375\,\mathrm{mL}$ , approximately $44.4\,\mathrm{mL}$ . Measuring the three matching tablespoons avoids switching conventions halfway through the example.

Load the four-to-six-serving stock example Scale the oil to six servings

These quantities demonstrate arithmetic, not a complete tested recipe. Use the Ratio Calculator to check the serving ratio. Follow the recipe author's guidance for larger batches and equipment changes.

Example three: cups to grams needs an ingredient

Cups and milliliters measure volume. Grams measure mass. Changing between them requires an ingredient-specific reference, not just a unit factor. If the recipe supplies grams, use those amounts rather than replacing them with an unrelated conversion chart.

Adopt a flour reference, then calculate

King Arthur Baking lists $120\,\mathrm{g}$ per recipe cup for all-purpose flour and $198\,\mathrm{g}$ for granulated white sugar. This converter adopts those gram-per-cup references on a US customary cup basis. That is an explicit modeling choice, not a claim that the publisher measured that exact cup volume. View the ingredient chart.

1. Select all-purpose flour
Choose the named reference before changing a volume unit to grams. Keep the original cup quantity and ingredient identity together.
2. Convert the original amount
$m\approx\frac32\,\mathrm{cup}\times\frac{120\,\mathrm{g}}{1\,\mathrm{cup}}=180\,\mathrm{g}$
The multiplication is exact within the adopted model; the physical ingredient mass is still an estimate.
3. Scale to six servings if needed
$m_{\mathrm{scaled}}\approx180\times\frac64=270\,\mathrm{g}$
Choose the converter's servings mode to apply this multiplier once. Do not enter the scaled cup quantity and also apply the same multiplier.

A general mass-volume model is $m=\rho V$ , where $\rho$ is the adopted mass per unit volume. Ingredient condition, packing and measurement method affect that reference. More decimal places in a result do not remove those differences.

Load the flour estimate with its reference Scale the flour estimate to six servings

Also distinguish fluid ounces from ounces on a scale: $1\,\mathrm{fl\,oz}_{\mathrm{US}}=29.5735295625\,\mathrm{mL}$ , but $1\,\mathrm{oz}=28.349523125\,\mathrm{g}$ for avoirdupois mass. Neither equality lets you equate milliliters with grams for every ingredient. Use the Weight and Mass Converter for mass-only conversions.

Convert an oven temperature separately

Fahrenheit and Celsius readings need both multiplication and an offset. Doubling the ingredient quantities does not double the oven setting. Unit conversion also does not automatically adjust a recipe for a fan oven.

T_{\mathrm C}=(T_{\mathrm F}-32)\frac59

T_{\mathrm F}=T_{\mathrm C}\frac95+32

Here $T_{\mathrm F}$ and $T_{\mathrm C}$ are the numerical temperature readings in the named scales. For $350\,{}^\circ\mathrm F$ , subtract $32$ and multiply by $5/9$ :

T_{\mathrm C}=(350-32)\frac59=\frac{530}{3}

That is approximately $176.7\,{}^\circ\mathrm C$ , or $177\,{}^\circ\mathrm C$ to the nearest whole degree. A recipe suggesting $180\,{}^\circ\mathrm C$ is choosing a practical setting; it is not the exact conversion of $350\,{}^\circ\mathrm F$ .

NIST temperature factors support the scale relationship. Use the Temperature Converter or the Temperature Conversion Chart for more readings. Keep the recipe's equipment and cooking instructions alongside the converted setting.

Measure consistently and round at the end

1. Read the original units
Check cup and spoon sizes, whether ounces mean fluid volume or mass, and any ingredient notes such as packed or sifted. Write the convention with the number so that it survives copying or sharing.
2. Preserve the model
Keep fractions and full conversion factors through intermediate steps. Apply the serving multiplier once. For grams-to-cups work, carry the ingredient reference with the calculation instead of treating it as a universal constant.
3. Match the equipment
Use marked measuring equipment and the filling technique specified by the recipe. A calculation with many decimal places cannot make a coarse jug or an inconsistent flour scoop more accurate. A scale is useful when the author provides ingredient masses.
4. Record useful rounding
Round the final amount to a practical increment for the recipe and equipment, and identify it as an approximation. Keep the unrounded calculation in your notes if you will scale it again.

For the scaled stock example, rounding a customary cup to $240\,\mathrm{mL}$ first would give $\frac98\times240=270\,\mathrm{mL}$ instead of approximately $266.2\,\mathrm{mL}$ . This difference comes from changing the factor, not from the serving ratio. A recipe that explicitly defines a $240\,\mathrm{mL}$ cup should use its stated convention.

For a kitchen reference sheet, use your browser's print command. The volume table and worked equations remain available without JavaScript. The converter can also provide a shareable configuration and a CSV calculation record.

Check your conversion

How much is half a metric cup in milliliters?

\frac12\times250=125\,\mathrm{mL}

This assumes the specified $250\,\mathrm{mL}$ metric cup. Half a US customary cup is $118.29411825\,\mathrm{mL}$ , so selecting the source convention changes the answer.

How many metric teaspoons fill an Australian tablespoon?

\frac{20\,\mathrm{mL}}{5\,\mathrm{mL}}=4

Use four metric teaspoons under the cited convention. Dividing two quantities with the same volume unit leaves a count of teaspoons, not a new volume in milliliters.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How many milliliters are in a cup?

Identify the cup before choosing a value. A US customary cup is exactly

236.5882365\,\mathrm{mL}

, a US nutrition-labeling cup is defined as

240\,\mathrm{mL}

for that purpose, and a metric recipe cup may be specified as

250\,\mathrm{mL}

. These are distinct conventions. Check the recipe's measurement notes and the markings on your cup; a country name alone does not identify every author's convention.

How many tablespoons are in three-quarters of a cup?

Under US customary measures, one cup contains sixteen tablespoons, so

\frac34\times16=12

tablespoons. Halving that quantity gives six tablespoons, or three-eighths of a cup. This relationship requires matching units. A metric cup and an Australian tablespoon use different volumes, so do not apply the US tablespoon count to a mixed-convention calculation.

Is a tablespoon always three teaspoons?

The relation holds within US customary measures, and also for a

15\,\mathrm{mL}

tablespoon paired with a

5\,\mathrm{mL}

teaspoon. In the cited Australian convention, a

20\,\mathrm{mL}

tablespoon contains four of those metric teaspoons. Read both spoon sizes before substituting one for the other. A household eating spoon is not a calibrated measuring spoon.

Can I convert cups to grams without choosing an ingredient?

No single factor works for every ingredient. Cups measure volume, while grams measure mass. A flour reference and a sugar reference give different masses for the same cup count. Use the recipe author's gram amount when available, or select a clearly identified ingredient reference. The converter requires that reference when crossing between mass and volume, and marks the result as an estimate.

Are fluid ounces the same as ounces on my scale?

No. A fluid ounce measures volume; an avoirdupois ounce on a kitchen scale measures mass. One US fluid ounce is exactly

29.5735295625\,\mathrm{mL}

, whereas one avoirdupois ounce is exactly

28.349523125\,\mathrm{g}

. These equalities describe separate quantities. Moving from one to the other requires a suitable ingredient density or measured reference, even if the display abbreviations look similar.

Should I round before or after scaling a recipe?

Keep the unrounded conversion through the calculation and round the final amount to a usable measurement. Replacing every US customary cup with

240\,\mathrm{mL}

first introduces a consistent difference that grows with the batch. If the recipe explicitly defines its cup as

240\,\mathrm{mL}

, however, use that definition from the start; it is not a rounding error in that recipe.

Does doubling a recipe double the oven temperature or cooking time?

No. A serving multiplier adjusts ingredient quantities. It does not tell you how heat transfer, pan depth, mixing, or cooking duration changes. Temperature-scale conversion is a separate operation with an offset. Follow the recipe's instructions for batch size, equipment and doneness, and use an author-tested larger-batch version when available rather than multiplying every number printed on the page.

Why does my flour cup weigh more than the reference?

A volume measure does not fix how much air sits between flour particles. Scooping, settling, packing, flour type and moisture can change the mass collected. The guide uses a published reference for a named ingredient, not an exact physical constant. Follow the recipe author's weighing and filling method, and avoid replacing its supplied gram value with a different website's reference.

Related guides and converters

Metric vs Imperial
Recognize the measurement system before selecting a factor.
Common Conversions
Connect quantity types with the appropriate conversion tool.
Cooking Measurement Converter
Choose conventions, ingredient references and recipe scaling.
Practical Converters
Browse related everyday measurement tools.

Sources and verification

Unit definitions, recipe conventions and ingredient references serve different purposes. The calculations here retain that distinction. Worked values were checked independently with rational arithmetic before checking their corresponding converter settings.

NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C (2026)
Defined inch and US liquid-gallon relationships; customary unit tables. PDF.
NIST Guide to the SI: conversion factors
Cross-checks for volume, mass and Fahrenheit/Celsius conversion. Published decimal tables may round factors.
21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii): nutrition-labeling measures
The specifically defined US nutrition-labeling cup, spoon and fluid-ounce volumes.
Taste.com.au: weights and measurement charts
The publisher's metric cup and Australian tablespoon convention. PDF.
King Arthur Baking: Ingredient Weight Chart
Published all-purpose flour and granulated sugar reference weights; ingredient-specific estimates, not universal densities.

Editorial Transparency

Who maintains this page

Ownership and review

Written and maintained by the Toolarithm editorial team. The method was last reviewed on October 29, 2026. No independent professional review is claimed.

Methodology

The editorial team checks definitions, examples, linked tools, and cited references. Dates shown here come from the page's maintained publication record.

Read the editorial methodology

Dates and sources

Published June 10, 2026. Updated October 29, 2026.

First, identify the measurement convention

US customary cup

US nutrition-labeling cup

Metric recipe cup

Metric tablespoon

Australian recipe tablespoon

US customary liquid volume conversion table

Example one: convert and halve a cup fraction

1. Convert to tablespoons

2. Convert to milliliters

3. Halve the quantity

Example two: change four servings to six

1. Scale the stock

2. Convert the scaled stock

Apply the same factor to the oil

Example three: cups to grams needs an ingredient

Adopt a flour reference, then calculate

1. Select all-purpose flour

2. Convert the original amount

3. Scale to six servings if needed

Convert an oven temperature separately

Measure consistently and round at the end

1. Read the original units

2. Preserve the model

3. Match the equipment

4. Record useful rounding

Check your conversion

Frequently Asked Questions

Related guides and converters

Sources and verification

Who maintains this page

Ownership and review

Methodology

Dates and sources