About Cooking Converter
Free cooking measurement converter. Convert cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, millilitres, grams, and ounces instantly. Scale recipes up or down between US, metric, and imperial.
How to use
- Select the ingredient or measurement type. The converter handles volume conversions (cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, mL, litres), weight conversions (grams, ounces, pounds), and temperature conversions (Celsius/Fahrenheit for oven settings).
- Enter the amount you have and select the unit you want to convert from and to. For example, convert 2 cups of flour to grams, or 250 mL of milk to cups. Volume-to-weight conversions account for ingredient density since 1 cup of flour weighs differently than 1 cup of sugar.
- View the precise conversion with the result rounded to practical cooking measurements. The converter shows both exact values and the nearest common measurement (1/4 tsp, 1/3 cup) since measuring cups and spoons come in standard fractions.
- Use the oven temperature converter for recipe conversions between Celsius and Fahrenheit. Common temperatures: 350F = 175C (standard baking), 400F = 200C (roasting), 450F = 230C (high heat). Gas mark equivalents are also shown for recipes from the UK.
- Scale recipes up or down by converting all ingredients proportionally. If a recipe serves 4 and you need to serve 6, multiply each measurement by 1.5. The converter helps you translate scaled amounts into practical measurements.
- Reference the common conversions chart for frequently used kitchen measurements: 1 cup = 250 mL = 16 tablespoons, 1 tablespoon = 15 mL = 3 teaspoons, 1 stick of butter = 1/2 cup = 113g, 1 ounce = 28.35 grams.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams are in a cup?
It depends on the ingredient because a cup measures volume, not weight. 1 cup of all-purpose flour = 125g, 1 cup of granulated sugar = 200g, 1 cup of brown sugar (packed) = 220g, 1 cup of butter = 227g, 1 cup of rice = 185g, 1 cup of water/milk = 240g, 1 cup of honey = 340g, 1 cup of oats = 90g. The difference is due to ingredient density. This is why professional bakers always measure by weight (grams) rather than volume (cups) — weight measurements are consistent regardless of how tightly packed the ingredient is.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons = 250 mL (Canadian/metric cup) or 237 mL (US cup). Common fractions: 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons, 1/3 cup = 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon, 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons, 1/8 cup = 2 tablespoons. Note: Canadian measuring cups follow the metric standard (250 mL = 1 cup), while US cups are 237 mL. The difference (13 mL or about 1 tablespoon) is small enough to be insignificant in most recipes but can matter in precise baking.
How do I convert a recipe from cups to grams?
Look up each ingredient's weight per cup and multiply. For a recipe calling for 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup butter: flour = 2 x 125g = 250g, sugar = 1 x 200g = 200g, butter = 0.5 x 227g = 114g. Use a kitchen scale for accuracy — a $15 digital scale measuring in 1g increments is the single best investment for consistent baking results. Volume measurements for flour can vary by 20-30% depending on whether the flour is sifted, spooned, or scooped. When scaling recipes that use fractional amounts (3/4 cup doubled, or 2/3 halved), use the
Fraction Calculator to get the exact scaled fraction before converting to grams.
What is the difference between US and metric cups?
A US cup is 236.6 mL. A metric cup (used in Canada and Australia) is 250 mL. The difference is about 1 tablespoon per cup. For most cooking, this difference is negligible. For precise baking recipes, it can affect results. Most Canadian recipe books use 250 mL cups. When following US recipes, the safest approach is to use weight (grams) rather than volume. Canadian measuring cup sets are sold in metric (250 mL) with the fractions being proportional (125 mL for 1/2 cup). US measuring cups are sold in 8 oz (237 mL) increments.
How do I convert oven temperatures?
Fahrenheit to Celsius: subtract 32, then multiply by 5/9. Celsius to Fahrenheit: multiply by 9/5, then add 32. Common baking temperatures: 300F = 150C (low/slow), 325F = 165C, 350F = 175C (standard baking), 375F = 190C, 400F = 200C (roasting), 425F = 220C, 450F = 230C (high heat), 500F = 260C (pizza/broiling). Gas mark equivalents (UK recipes): Gas 4 = 350F/175C, Gas 6 = 400F/200C, Gas 8 = 450F/230C. Most ovens are accurate to within 25F, so a 10-degree difference between conversions is within normal oven variance.
How many ounces are in a cup?
There are two types of ounces: fluid ounces (volume) and weight ounces. 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces (US) or 8.45 fluid ounces (Imperial). By weight: 1 cup of water weighs approximately 8 ounces (236g), but 1 cup of flour weighs only 4.4 ounces (125g) and 1 cup of sugar weighs 7 ounces (200g). This distinction between fluid ounces and weight ounces causes frequent confusion in recipes. When a recipe says 8 oz of chocolate, it means weight ounces (use a scale). When it says 8 oz of milk, it usually means fluid ounces (use a measuring cup).
What does a stick of butter equal in other measurements?
1 stick of butter (US) = 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons = 4 ounces = 113 grams = 125 mL. Butter wrappers in the US are marked with tablespoon measurements for easy cutting. In Canada, butter is sold in 454g blocks (1 pound) without tablespoon markings, so knowing the weight equivalents is essential: 1 tablespoon = 14g, 1/4 cup = 57g, 1/3 cup = 76g, 1/2 cup = 113g. European butter blocks are typically 250g. For recipe accuracy, especially in pastry, weighing butter produces more consistent results than measuring by volume.
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